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THE

Philatelic Iecord

AND

Stamp News.

EDITED BY

Edward J. Nankivell.

VOL. XVIII.
JANUARY to DECEMBER, 1896.

LONDON:

BUHL & CO., LIMITED,
11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C

CONTENTS.

Abnormal Varieties of Great Britain. By Hastings E. Wright, 5.

Album, Permanent Printed. By Edward J. Nankivell, 211.

Alsace-Lorraine. By G. B. Duerst, 36, 65.

Bechuanaland, Stamps of, 155.

British East Africa and Zanzibar. By the Postmaster-General, 153.

British South Africa, Provisionals. By Captain Norris Newman, 241.

China, Postal Reform in, 246.

Clubs, Exchange. By H. A. Slade, 69.

College Messenger Stamps. By H. D. Catling, B.A., 72.

Commemoratives and the Postal Union. By A. F. Basset Hull, 214.

Curious Post Offices. By Edward J. Nankivell, 316.

Death of Lord Kingston, 13.

Death of Sir Rowland Hill's Brother, 295.

Egypt, Stamps of. By G. B. Duerst, 236, 267, 291.

Error, Lubeck, of 1859. 102, 132, 159, 187.

Exchange Clubs. By H. A. Slade, 69.

Exhibition, London Philatelic, 1897. 243, 275, 296.

First Issues of Western Australia. By Lipman E. Hush, 96, 124, 152, 180,

209. 320.
First Postage Stamps, 275.

France: 20c , 1870 (Bordeaux). By Ad. Reinheimer, 321.
French Stamp, New, 71.

Great Britain, Abnormal Varieties of. By Hastings E. Wright, 5.
Greece, Olympian Stamps of. By Edward J. Nankivell, 129.
Greece : Olympian Stamps of. By Dr. Jur. C. S. Socolis, 208.
Iceland, Postage Stamps of, 212.

Impoverished States, Stamps of. By Edward J. Nankivell, 100.
Indian Native States Stamps. By Lieut. Madden, 324.
Kingston, Lord, Death of, 13.
La Guiara and St. Thomas, 182.
Leeward Islands, Obsolete, 99.

London Philatelic Exhibition, 1897. 243> 275> 29^>-
Lubeck Error of 1859. 102, 132, 159, 187.
Messenger, College, Stamps. By H. D. Catling, B.A., 72.
National Pastime, Philately, a. By Edward J. Nankivell, 9.
Notes on Nevis and St. Kitts. By Douglas Mackenzie, 97.
Nevis and St. Kitts, Notes on. By Douglas Mackenzie, 97.
New French Stamp, 71.
Obsolete Leeward Islands, 99.

Olympian Stamps of Greece. By Edward J. Nankivell, 129.
Olympian Stamps of Greece. By Dr. Jur. S. C. Socolis, 208.
Orange Free State Issues, 104, 131, 303.
Pastime, National, Philately a. By Edward J. Nankivell, 9.
Permanent Printed Album. By Edward J. Nankivell, 211.

Philately a National Pastime. By Edward J. Nankivell, 9.

Postage Stamps of Iceland, 212.

Postage Reform in China, 246.

Postal Union and Commemoratives. By A. F. Basset Hull, 214.

Postmaster General's Report, 244.

Post Ofrlces, Curious. By Edward J. Nankivell, 316.

Prospectus London Philatelic Exhibition. 1897, 29&

Provisional, Orange Free State, 203.

Provisionals, British South Africa. By Capt. Norris Newman, 241.

Queensland, Recent Issues. By J. E. Newell Bull, 11.

Recent Queensland Issues. By J. E. Newell Bull, n.

Report, Postmaster General's, 244.

Reprints and Reissues of U.S. By John N. Luff, 215.

Reunion, Stamps of. By William Herrick 41.

Selangor, Stamps of, 295

Something of Value. By Gilbert Lockyer, 318.

South Australia, ^d. Varieties. By Geo. P. Grignard, 323.

Stamps of Bechuanaland, 155.

Stamps of Egypt, By G. B. Duerst, 236, 267, 291.

Stamps of Impoverished States. By Edward J. Nankivell, 100.

Stamps of Reunion By William Herrick, 41.

Stamps of Selangor, 295.

St. Kitts and Nevis, Notes on. By Douglas Mackenzie, 97.

Stray Notes on Transvaals. By Edward J. Nankivell, 126.

St. Thomas and La Guiara, 182.

Transvaals, Stray Notes on. By Edward J. Nankivell, 126.

U.S. Official Notices, 73.

U.S. Reprints and Reissues. By John N. Luff, 215.

Varieties, Abnormal, of Great Britain. By Hastings E. Wright, 5.

Western Australia, First Issues of. By Lipman E. Hush, 96, 124, 152, 180,

209, 320.
Zanzibar and British East Africa. By the Postmaster General, 153.

Editorial Notes, 1, 33, 61, 93, 121, 149, 177, 205, 233, 265, 289, 313.

Reviews, 15, 46, 75, 106, 133, 220, 250, 326.

Novelties and Discoveries, 17, 47, 76, 107, 135, 162, 188, 221, 251, 277,

305> 327.
Philately in the Mags, 19, 50, 80, in, 138, 165, 191, 224, 255, 280, 307, 320.
Forgeries and Reprints, 25, 55, 203, 286.

Philatelic Gossip, 26, 56, 86, 116, 142, 171, 198, 229, 261, 284, 310, 334.
Correspondence, 29, 57, 90, 173, 201, 231, 287, 335.
Societies in Session, 30.

Notable Stamps at Auction, 31, 59, 91, 120, 147, 175, 204, 232, 288, 312, 336.
Speculative Stamps, 89, 118, 264, 311.
Business Notes, 119, 263.
Illustrations of Postage Stamps, 145, 175.
Philatelic Society, London : Dinner, 146.

s JV4-

The

Philatelic Recokd

And Stamp News,

JANUARY, 1896.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

OME explanation of the change which marks this issue of the
Philatelic Record will naturally be expected from us.

When our publishers, in 1890, purchased the business of Messrs.
Pemberton, Wilson & Co., the Philatelic Record, as an item in that
transaction, came into their possession, and since then they have
continued, as separate publications, both the Record and the Stamp
News. From the first, however, the separate publications were felt
to be more or less unnecessary, and at last it has been decided to amalgamate
them under their joint titles. Hence we now bespeak for the Philatelic Record
and Sta??ip News the undivided support of past readers of both journals.

We shall endeavour to maintain in the new series the high standard which has
so conspicuously marked the Record during the seventeen years of its existence.
Eminent philatelists have conducted it in the past, and have earned for it a solid
philatelic reputation. That reputation we accept as a tradition to be preserved
and continued to the best of our ability.

Such changes as we shall effect will be adopted with the view of broadening
and deepening our hold upon stamp collectors in general. Whilst catering for
the specialist, the general collector will not be forgotten. In our " Editorial
Notes " we shall deal with topics that come to the surface from month to month.
Scientific articles will be contributed by leading specialists ; indeed no labour or
expense will be spared to secure for our pages the ripest work of the best
philatelists of the day ; current philatelic literature will be critically but kindly
reviewed ; under the head of " Philately in the Mags." will be included brief
notices of our contemporaries, with interesting extracts from the best articles of
the month, after the style of Mr. Stead's Review of Reviavs ; New Issues will be
written up to date and illustrated ; in dealing with the reports of Societies we
shall break away from the ancient practice of wasting space in recording routine
formalities, and confine ourselves to pithy and kindly notices of work done that
will interest the general body of collectors ; forgeries will be exposed and
described ; letters raising points of interest for discussion will find a ready welcome
in our pages ; a brief summary of the chief prices realised for interesting pairs or
single specimens will be published each month during the auction season ; and
last, but not least, we shall gather up under the head of " Philatelic Gossip "
many interesting and chatty items of information as to what is passing in
philatelic circles. In fact, we hope to present our readers with a monthly budget
specialistic, instructive, topical and gossipy.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

It will be noted that the changes include an alteration in the size of the page.
This was decided after much serious consideration. It was felt that the old size
of the Record was much too small to admit of such developments as those upon
which we have embarked. Despite the enlarged size, and a substantial increase
also in the number of pages, the subscription rate has been reduced from five
shillings to three shillings per annum. The more popular price, combined with
a broader programme, will, we trust, secure for the Philatelic Record and Stamp
News a foremost place in the " big circulations " of the day in the world
of philately.

Mr. N. F. Seebeck feels very sore over the criticism with which
Mr. Seebecks his first letter has been received. He is grieved that the olive branch
erftidsm. that he held out has not been recognised as the genuine article.
Whatever may be the case elsewhere, we think we can answer for it
here, that with Mr. Seebeck personally we have no quarrel whatever ; that, on the
contrary, we are more than pleased to learn that he is a collector, and therefore
one of us. As an engraver he has fallen into a groove that has led to seriously
bad results for philately, and the consensus of opinion is unmistakably dead
against his system of helping out poverty-stricken States by supplying them
gratuitously with revenue-earning labels in return for their permission to traffic in
remainders. If Mr. Seebeck could rid himself of the incubus of the " remainder"
part of his contracts, his exquisite designs would raise him to the pinnacle of
popularity as an engraver. But we cannot separate his beautiful labels from
the pernicious system that has eaten, like dry rot, into philately. He alone can
and must see to that. We are not sure that he properly estimates the objection
yet, for he imagines that he quite counterbalances matters by supplying large
quantities of stamps at a price which, in the parlance of the day, brings them
within reach of every collector. He fails to recognise the fact that collectors are
interested only in studying stamps which are the result of genuine and honest
postal needs. The inevitable cure is working its own drastic remedy. Already
the States which are wedded to a systematic traffic in " remainders " are
disappearing from respectable collections.

" Ring out the old, ring in the new ! " is the motto of a new move-
eZrs«*ue ment in favour of confining latter-day collecting to new issues, and
Old issues. ieaving the older issues to the wealthy specialist. The suggestion has
much to commend it. The old issues are every year getting scarcer and dearer.
Every year shoals of old stamps are placed beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.
The gaps that only the wealthy and fortunate few can hope to fill, grow wider and
wider, and the task of collecting the old rarities is surrounded with so many
disappointments that it is no wonder many give up in despair. It is a pity 'tis so ;
for, after all, the true philatelist must ever find more real and unalloyed pleasure
in the study of primitive methods in the production of postage stamps than in
the competitive scramble for modern stamps ;' made for collectors." True all
modern stamps are not of the " made for collectors " class, but so many are open
to that suspicion that it is no easy matter to separate the good from the bad. We
are told that there is plenty of scope for the most industrious collector within the
range of stamps issued since 1890, that, in fact, one collector has, within those
limits, filled no less than ten books of seventy pages.

The fastidious philatelist would probably like to know what proportion of
those ten vols, is taken up with such philatelic shoddy as Seebecks.

If the " New collector" could be piloted clear of the ineffable rubbish that
strews the path that he will have to follow in the new order of things philatelic,
the advice to the rank and file of stamp collectors to confine themselves to the
more attainable issues of a later date would command unqualified support, but if

EDITORIAL NOTE^

he is to collect everything in the shape of a label that has passed muster as a
postage stamp, then is he indeed to be pitied. Better sigh for the oid rarities in
vain, than cumber oneself with the worthless weeds that spring up apace on every
side in the shape of new issues.

The Monthly Journal has undertaken the task of laying the ghost of
of the the Chalmers controversy, and it is devoutly to be hoped that we have
CMithrs really arrived at the concluding chapter. Many, many years ago
Mr. Pearson Hill submitted to the experts of the Philatelic Society of
London, ample evidence to warrant that Society in the promulgation of its strong
opinion that the Chalmers claim to priority in the invention of the adhesive post-
age stamp was absolutely untenable ; of course, it must be very annoying to find
people who ought to know better, leading us astray in the matter in Encyclo-
paedias and Historical Handbooks. It is in evidence, however, that Mr. James
Chalmers made his plan public some ten months after Sir Rowland Hill's pro-
posals were published ; and that Mr. Chalmers honestly withdrew his claim to
priority, and even expressed his regret that he had, in error, put it forward.
Surely the establishment of these facts is enough ; nevertheless, the flood is let
loose upon this long suffering generation once more, and seems likely to run its
persistent course through many pages of our excellent contemporary.

More According to the Weekly Philatelic Era, the American Express

Cornering Company has bought up all the #1.00 stamps of the current issue
on unwatermarked paper that could be found in the country.
Evidently it will be necessary to compile and publish a regular list of
" cornered " stamps, as a warning to collectors not to allow themselves to be
rushed into paying absurd prices, when, by the exercise of a little patience,
they will force the " cornerers " to disgorge, or suffer loss. A "cornering"
operation means sales at artificially advanced prices within a reasonable time.
Any delay beyond that period means that accumulating interest is rapidly
wiping out prospective profit. Hence in the competition of cornerer v.
collector, the collector can afford to play at the waiting game with much more
certainty than the cornerer. The cornerer must sell, but the collector is not
compelled to buy. Blank spaces in albums now-a-days are the common lot.
Even the wealthiest cannot fill every blank. Therefore, where the supply
cornered runs into thousands it is pretty safe to wait. Besides, the collector has
two chances to the cornerers one, for a collector may any day come across the
desired stamp in the ordinary course of collecting. The adoption of a waiting
policy would probably have kept certain West Indians at a reasonable figure : a
mad rush for those stamps has had the opposite effect.

A representative of Kentucky (may his shadow rapidly decrease)'
Commeima- according to a daily paper, is preparing a bill for submission to the
tiVFioodmp United States Congress, which will be nothing short of a bolt from the
blue, if it ever passes into law. He proposes that cities having a
population of not less than 100,000 shall be entitled to postage stamps of special
designs •• commemorating the history of said city, or the memory of inhabitants
now deceased." The stamps, we are told, could, as now, be manufactured by the
Government, but the special cost would be defrayed by the cities qualified and
desirous to have them.

And when that day arrives, what will become of stamp-collecting in the great
Republic ? The patriotic fever will assuredly receive a new and irresistable
stimulus. Foreign stamps will be wanted no more. They will be shipped to

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Europe by a specially chartered fleet of steamers. Stamp dealers will have more
than enougji to do to collect the pictures of deceased inhabitants for sale to
collectors. And prominent citizens will hasten merrily to their decease in sure
and certain hope of their postal resurrection.

In Alfred Smith & Son's Monthly Circular for December there is a
Cc°rieeicsg vigorous editorial protest against the collection of errors due to the
erroneous insertion of a portion of the moveable parts of the die.
Inverted heads in Spanish, &c, inverted swans in Western Australians, and
inverted centres in U.S. should accordingly be tabooed. " Such errors," we are
told, " are constantly occurring where stamps are printed by two separate
operations, and the same may be said of the bi-coloured Spanish stamps. "There
are no limits," continues the protesting editor, " to the carelessness and want of
skill on the part of workmen, and a collector who likes to try and make an album
of all the blunders that arise from this cause will find that he has a wonderful
collection of cripples of all kinds." And even so we fear ninety-nine philatelists
out of a hundred would envy him his possession. Cripples they may be, but what
is the difference in collectability between an error made by the engraver and one
made by any other workman through whose hands the dies may have to pass in
the process of printing ? No one, not even the editor of the Monthly Circular,
would presumably bar errors in the engraving from the most exclusive list of
collectable stamps. Why, then, should he bar other errors ? Surely it is only a
question of degree.

When the surcharge " Halfpenny" on the 6d. of the old type of
Natal appeared, the Philetelic Society of London, upon evidence fur-
Speouiators. nished of official speculation in connection with the issue, made
strong representations to the Colonial Minister. That these repre-
sentations have borne good fruit is attested by the announcement in
a Colonial paper that " The Home Government, having heard of the alleged
dealings by members of the Civil Service in the halfpenny postage stamps, have
written to the Local Government in terms of strong condemnation on the matter.
The subject has been brought officially under the notice of all the members of
our branch of the Civil Service."

The South African Philatelist, commenting on this piece of good news, says : —

" It is well known that all the important stamp firms had, in most of the
countries where stamps were issued, a certain amount on deposit for the supply
of any new issues that might appear. Now it must be quite evident to all that a
postmaster of a given country, discovering that he has in hand from ^500 to
£\q>qq which might so easily be utilised, might feel the temptation of making an
additional commission, and place before his Government, as a means of increasing
postal revenue the plan of issuing new stamps for which he could assure an
immediate sale. The stamps are issued ; the sale effected. Everything is
swimmingly satisfactory. Another batch of orders for future issues ; more
supplies ; and so it went on from bad to worse. Besides other considerations,
the postmaster's gains from private speculations would also affect his actions."

Some day we may be able to publish an interesting list of postmaster-dealers.
Such a list would be most instructive. It would explain much, and open the eyes
of many collectors to what is going on in certain quarters.

ABNORMAL VARIETIES OF GREAT BRITAIN 5

ABNORMAL VARIETIES OF GREAT BRITAIN.

By Hastings E. Wright.

'HE obscurity which has so long surrounded the abnormal varieties of
the stamps of Great Britain is doubtless accountable forthe erroneous
views and uncertainty so widely prevalent respecting their precise
status and philatelic value. The subject is one of much importance
to the earnest philatelist, and particularly to the specialist who is
desirous of forming his collection of English stamps on a con-
sistent and intelligible basis. I venture to say that hitherto few
collectors have had any clear and definite reasons from a philatelic standpoint
for including or rejecting many of the varieties they meet with. One hears the
terms " stamp," "proof," "essay" applied in a haphazard and indiscriminate
fashion, with the result that stamps are rejected because they are thought to be
" proofs," and essays accepted under the belief that they are stamps. It may,
therefore, be of interest to consider what is really implied by these terms, and
what constitutes an impression, a " stamp," " proof," or " essay."

From an official standpoint a stamp (using the term in the limited sense of a
postal adhesive) is a label, which, by its conformity to certain legal requirements,
possesses the power of franking postal matter to the extent of its face value. To
decide, therefore, whether an impression from a plate or die is or is not a stamp,
it is necessary to consider the legal and official requirements, and then determine
whether it conforms thereto.
Three points are essential : —

1. The impression must be taken from a plate duly approved and authorised

by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

2. It must be struck upon paper bearing the watermark assigned to the face

value denoted by the impression.

3. It must be in the colour approved and authorised by the Revenue

authorities.*

Any impression, therefore, conforming to these essentials is a stamp, and as
such possesses franking power. Whether the impression be perforated or remain
imperforate is immaterial. Perforation is merely for the convenience of post
office officials and the public, and has no official significance whatever in relation
to franking power. Again, it is a common fallacy to assume that in order to
render duly qualified impressions capable of denoting the prepayment of postage,
it is essential that they be bought over the counter of a post office This is by no
means the case, and in any event the stamps cannot reach outside hands until
the Revenue has received their face value. Stamps fulfilling the conditions we have
seen to be essential can only lose their power of franking by cancellation, which,
in the case of impressions for which the Revenue has not received the face value,
is effected by over-printing them with the word " specimen."

Let us now turn to the consideration of " proofs," of which there are two
kinds, i.e., impressions from the " die" and impressions from the " plate." It is
with the latter only that we are now concerned.

Probably no term in philately is so often incorrectly applied, and there would

* Not necessarily that in which the "imprimatur" sheet was struck. A change of colour was
not always registered. The 2s. (for example) was registered in hlue, but when the colour of this
value was subsequently altered to brown, no sheet in this colour was officially preserved "Water-
marks also, as such, were always ignored in registration, though certain watermarks were assigned to
certain values and to no others. Ileiice no sheet of the 4d. with watermark of "middle garter"
exists in the official archives, because no change had been made in the colour or design of the im-
pression, and when a change was subsequently made the " middle garter" watermark had ceased to
be used.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

be less error and confusion in this respect if it were more generally known that
throughout the series of English stamps printed by Messrs. De La Rue, the proofs
(namely, impressions taken from a newly-constructed plate in order to prove its
correctness) have always been struck in black upon stout unwatermarked paper and
never in colour. These impressions, which alone are entitled to be termed
proofs, are preserved in the official archives quite apart from the "imprimatur"
sheets of stamps.

Specimens of these proofs are of the highest degree of rarity, and may be said
never to reach the hands of the collector, any surplus impressions not required
for official reference being carefully destroyed. Notwithstanding, therefore, the
frequent and indiscriminate use of the term " proof," it will be seen that only in
extremely rare instances can its employment be correct.

We now pass in natural sequence to the consideration of " essays." The plate
having been found correct and duly approved, impressions, which are either
stamps or essays, but never proofs, are then struck in colour. To which of
these categories such impressions properly belong depends upon circumstances.
If the plate denotes a new value, or expresses an alteration in the design of a
value then current, or if a change of colour has been decided upon, then the
impressions are essays, because the particular colour in which the stamps are
hereafter to be printed has not been determined. On the other hand, if the new
plate is simply a duplicate of a previous one,* and no change of colour
is contemplated, the impressions are stamps, because they are then struck
only in the colour already authorised. These impressions may be very few or
may number thousands, the number depending upon whether the plate is wanted
for immediate use or not. In either event one of the impressions is retained for
official registration, the remainder (generally less than half-a-dozen sheets in
the case of a plate not required for immediate use) being placed to stock and
issued in the ordinary course.

In the creation of essays (or colour trials) the procedure is as follows, taking
as an illustration the case of a new value, which necessitates not only a new
plate but a fresh design and colour for the impression : — The designf and
plate having been approved, a dozen or more impressions, each differing in
colour, are then taken, usually on watermarked paper. From these the Post Office
and Revenue authorities select the colour deemed to be most suitable, and it
may here be observed that the sheet of essays so selected becomes ipso facto a
sheet of stamps (provided the impression be upon paper bearing the proper
watermark), as it is thereby in conformity with all the conditions essential to
labels possessing franking power. The other impressions remain what they
always were, merely essays. A warrant is then issued to the printer authorising
the creation of a stated number of sheets of the stamp in question, and from the
sheets so struck one is taken and placed (always imperforate) in the official
archives. The impressions so preserved are known as "imprimatur" sheets,
from the official endorsement each bears, to the effect that all similar impressions
are thereby authorised to denote the prepayment of postage.

Sufficient has now been said to indicate broadly the considerations which
should govern the application and use of the terms "stamp," "proof," and
"essay"; but in order to determine the precise degree of interest, from a
philatelic standpoint, attaching to individual examples various minor details must
be taken into account. All impressions from the plate must come under one or
other of three heads, two of which may be further sub-divided as follows : —

Proofs. — Impressions always in black on unwatermarked paper.

9 An alteration in the plate number does not signify.

t A new design, or any alteration in a previous one, is approved of by the medium of proof
impressions from the die prior to the construction of the plate. These impressions are struck in black
upon glazed card, and the official approval is endorsed thereon.

ABNORMAL VARIETIES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 7

Essays (Colour Trials). — Impressions always in colour either on unwater-
marked paper, watermarked paper, imperforate, or perforated.

Stamps. — Impressions, perforated or imperforate, possessing all the features
essential to their endowment with franking power : —

(a) Circulated impressions from plates " put to press." *

{b) Circulated impressions from plates never "put to press." f

differing in colour from the later impressions.

(d) Non-circulated impressions (intended for issue) from plates " put to press."

(e) Non-circulated impressions (intended for issue) from plates not " put to

press" until the design had been modified.
(_/") Non-circulated impressions (intended for issue) from plates never " put

to press."
(g) Impressions from approved plates, struck with a view to their possible

issue, but never circulated.
(k) Impressions from approved plates, but not intended for circulation,

though possessing franking power.

The following stamps will serve to illustrate this classification : —

(a) Any of the ordinary issues.

(b) gd. plate 3 (hair lines), iod. plate 2, 2s. plate 3, &c.

(d) i-^d. lilac rose, 8d. brown, &c.

(e) 3d. plate 2 (first state, with reticulated background).
{/) id. black, V.R. (intended for official use only).

(g) 3^- plate 8, 6d. plate 9, is. plate 4, &c, on chemically-prepared paper,

bearing the usual watermark.
(h) id. black (so-called reprint), with watermark Large Crown.

To indicate more clearly the reasoning upon which this system of classifica-
tion is founded, one or two examples may be taken for fuller consideration.
The £$ telegraph stamp in gold, for instance, is an impression somewhat
difficult of exact classification ; it is not a proof, neither can it strictly be said to
be a stamp, yet it is entitled to be considered as something more than a mere
essay, because there had been a definite intention to issue it. For a stamp of so
high a value gold was thought the most appropriate colour and was accordingly
approved, the series of colour essays usual in the case of a new value being dis-
pensed with. It was only when Messrs. De La Rue called attention to the
excessive cost of printing the stamp in this colour that it was abandoned, and
essays were thereupon struck in various colours in order that a less expensive
one might be adopted, Very few impressions had been struck in the original
colour, and, under the circumstances, none were put into circulation, nor was a
sheet preserved for official reference. Nevertheless, the specimens still existing
were stamps in intention, though not in fact. This much can never, of course,
be said of an essay pure and simple.

To take another example ; the i^d. of i860, in lilac-rose, is commonly regarded
as a mere essay, because never put into circulation, but if the facts be considered
the error of this classification will be apparent. The variety was duly and
authoritatively constituted a stamp, and the endorsement on the imprimatur
sheet declares that all similar impressions shall denote the prepayment of postage
to the extent of i£d. for each label. English postal adhesives are never demon-
etised, hence the franking power once conferred upon impressions they must
retain it until cancelled by destruction or otherwise. In the case of the stamp
under consideration, the supply printed in i860 remained in stock for several

* This term is officially applied to plates brought into constant use.

t i.e., printed from to a limited extent, but not brought into regular use.

8 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

years, and until their cancellation (by burning) they were reckoned in the official
accounts as representing their face value. Had the impressions been anything but
actual stamps no monetary value would have attached to them.

A few words may here be said respecting an impression possessing the extra-
ordinary feature of being an illegal or unauthorised issue. The iod. of 1867,
on paper bearing the watermark of " Emblems " is a variety now tolerably well
authenticated, and a collector fortunate enough to obtain a specimen would doubt-
less consider that he had secured a treasure of the first magnitude, and in a
sense he would be perfectly justified in so regarding it. A careful consideration,
however, will show that it is not strictly entitled to be classified as a stamp. The
watermark, an essential feature, is not in accordance with official regulations, and
the impressions therefore had properly no franking power. Paper bearing the
watermark of "Emblems" was not then, nor at any time authorised to receive
impressions denoting the value of iod., and any sheets so struck would inevitably
have been destroyed if discovered.

The "Error'' is not analogous to the well-known example of more recent date,
namely, the^"i struck upon paper watermarked " Orb," because in printing these
the printers were carrying out the official instructions, and the impressions
became duly authorised by the fact of their being in conformity with the terms
of the warrant authorising their creation. The position differs widely in the case
of the iod., because here it was an error on the part of the printers who were
acting (of course inadvertently) contrary to the official instructions, hence the
impressions upon " Emblem" paper were unauthorised and always remained so.

Finally we may pass under review a third example. The so-called reprint of
the id. Black of 1840, is an impression possessing some unique features, and to
classify it involves consideration of several interesting points. The variety owes
its existence to the fact that in the year 1864 some members of the Royal Family
having commenced to form a collection, application was made to the Revenue
Authorities for specimens, including the id. Black of the first issue. None of
these being found in stock impressions were authorised to be struck in black from
one of the plates of id. then in use. The plate employed for the purpose
differed from the original of 1840, only in that it was constructed from the
retouched die. The impressions were necessarily on paper watermarked " Large
Crown," none with the " Small Crown " watermark remaining on hand at that
date. That these impressions were intended to be reprints of the old id. Black,
and were officially regarded as such is beyond question, but their correct classifica-
tion is the problem which now presents itself for solution. Are they (notwithstand-
ing the official intentions at the time of their creation) as a matter of actual fact
stamps or mere curiosities ? True, it was known or assumed at the time that
the impressions would not be utilised for postal purposes, but such an assumption
would not per se be sufficient to deprive them of franking power if they otherwise
possessed it. To possess the power of franking a label must, as I have shown,
be in conformity with certain legal requirements, and it will be seen upon further
examination that these impressions are, in all essential respects, in accordance
therewith. They were struck from a duly approved plate, upon paper bearing
the watermark assigned to their face value, and were in a colour which, though
not then in use, had been authorised in former years for stamps denoting the
same value, and which had not been demonetised. The reprints had therefore
a legal status in respect of colour. Finally, there remains the question of design.
Though struck from a plate constructed from the re-touched die and thus
differing in minute details from the original, this does not alter their status as
stamps, or cause them to fall short of the essential requirements.

Plates constructed from the re-touched die (prior to the introduction of
letters in the upper angles) were officially regarded as identical with all previously
constructed, though the differences which exist were of course known. These,
however, had not been introduced intentionally, but were due to the impossibility
of deepening the lines in the die, in order to secure clearer impressions, without

PHILATELY AS A NATIONAL PASTIME.

making minute (but unintentional) alterations in the features of the Queen's head.
This is a point which, though it could not escape the attention of the philatelist,
was regarded officially as non-existent in so far as it affected the design, which was
intended to, and did in effect, remain unaltered. It would follow, therefore, that
these reprints possess, from an official and legal standpoint, precisely the same
status as though they had been struck from a plate constructed from the old die,
and if this be so they must come within the category of stamps, though to the
philatelist this definition will be qualified by the knowledge that they were not
intended for circulation. This, however, is not the point at issue.

The opinions herewith advanced may be thus summarised.

To constitute an impression a stamp it must have franking power, and this it
obtains by its conformity with three essential conditions. Given these, then the
absence of perforation, the fact of non-circulation, or the mere official intention
in respect to any individual impression cannot deprive it of this power, which is
only to be annulled by cancellation.

I am not, be it observed, arguing in favour of abnormal varieties being
necessarily included in a collection of English stamps. Every Philatelist worthy
of the name is fully competent to decide for himself the scope of his collection,
but I have endeavoured to show that the abnormal creations, possessed as they are
of much interest, in many instances deserve to receive, upon strictly Philatelic
grounds, a larger measure of consideration than has yet been accorded them.

The specialist may decide that his collection shall embrace as far as possible
every variety of impression in the nature of a stamp, or he may elect to confine
it within the narrower, though (from a financial standpoint) sufficiently wide
limits defined by the labels actually put into circulation, but whatsoever varieties
be included or rejected, let it be upon adequate and consistent grounds, so
that it be no longer possible to witness the spectacle of the " V.R." for example,
assigned the place of honour as a rarity of the first water* and the gem of the
collection, while other varieties possessing equal or greater merits and a far
higher degree of rarity are rejected with scorn. In considering the claims to
recognition of each abnormal variety the decision should be governed by a just
estimation of facts, instead of being influenced by the old preconceived ideas
founded upon mere prejudice and hearsay.

PHILATELY A NATIONAL PASTIME.

By Edward J. Nankivell.

f HERE is no gainsaying the fact that stamp collecting has passed
from the craze, or faddist stage, into the secure position of a
national pastime. It can now count its followers in almost every
village of the country, and its flourishing societies in every great
city of the Empire. It is connected by prosperous trade ramifica-
tions with every civilised state. It has its monthly and weekly
journals by the score, and even its own daily paper devoted
exclusively to the interests of stamp collecting. Many a struggling government
keeps its head out of bankruptcy by the revenue which it draws from stamp
collectors. Royalty has succumbed to the fascinations of the pursuit. Million-
aires pay fabulous prices for the little bits of paper that are classed among the
gems of philately. Speculators dabble in its securities. Cautious investors rank
the money they lock up in stamp collecting as amongst the safest and best of

* Documentary evidence exists which ^;oos to prove that probably upwards of 3600 (and possibly
many more) copies of the Id. V.R. ore still in existence, exclusive of the impressions officially
reserved.

io THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

their investments. It has passed through years of deepest depression, with
bounding prices, absolutely unaffected by the universal gloom. A collection
recently sold for ^"2200, cost the collector, 30 years ago, just ^69. One hundred
per cent, is not a bad return in these days ; and the fact that it has been a safe
return for thirty years speaks volumes for the stability of stamp collecting as a
national pastime.

These are a few of the more sordid reasons which may be adduced in explana-
tion of the popularity of a so called craze, which has forced its way into our
national life as a recognised pastime.

But the true philatelist, though he cannot fail to be more or less influenced by
the investment phase of the pursuit, reaps his keenest enjoyment from the work of
accumulating and studying the representative labels of the postal issues of the
various countries, their history, and their manufacture. He is, in fact, the student
and historian of the postal service. The literature of philately, counted by hun-
dreds of volumes, is replete with the history of the inception and the growth of
postal communication, its laws and its decrees. Over and over again the philate-
list has unearthed from forgotten archives, and gathered into permanent book
form the early history of the establishment of the postal service in country after
country. And every year by industrious and continuous research he is gathering
and preserving invaluable material for a comprehensive history of one of the most
interesting, and most important, developments of modern life.

The investment argument in favour of stamp collecting is, however, not an
unmixed good. It tends to dominate philately a great deal too much. It
determines too often the question as to what should be collected. And it is a too
important factor in the continual changes that are taking place from one group
of countries to another. The enthusiasm for a country is too often tainted by the
consideration of its prospective monetary value, and many countries are unpopular
for the simple reason that they comprise no stamps that fetch long prices. This
should not be. That the financial basis of philately should be solid and safe is
right enough ; but that everything should be regarded simply and solely from the
£ . s. d. point of view is, to say the least, undesirable in the best interests of
philately as a national pastime.

We are accustomed now-a-days to divide collectors into three classes ;
general collectors, specialists, and speculants. The latter is a parasitic growth
that is calculated in the end to work evil to the cause of philately. The
continual cornering of stamps, the mad rush for provisional issues, the eccen-
tricities of fashion, and artificially inflated prices : these are a few of the rocks
ahead against which we have to guard our hobby, if we would preserve what is
best in its pursuit for the enjoyment of the true philatelist.

That collectors should occasionally become dealers cannot be helped. The
temptation to put their capital and their knowledge to greater use from the
£ . s. d. point of view will, now and then, over balance the desire to rank only as
collectors ; but the insiduous and growing practice of a few well known collectors
of secretly competing with the recognised dealers in the buying and selling of
stamps which they do not collect is quite another matter.

Yet after all is said that can be urged by would-be Cassandras as a warning
of coming trouble, if not of coming dissolution, we are sanguine enough to believe
that philatelv will long continue to strengthen its claim to be regarded as one of
the most enjoyable of all our established national pastimes. Its more permanent
pleasure yielding capabilities are so widespread that they cannot be dwarfed by
the solid selfishness of a few speculating collectors.

RECENT QUEENSLAND ISSUES. n

RECENT QUEENSLAND ISSUES.

By. J. E. Newell Bull.

TAMP matters have been lively here lately, or rather, I should
say, for the past six or seven months. The first stir was caused
by our ordinary " Q and crown " paper running out, and pending
a fresh supply from England resource was had to " beer duty," i.e.,
paper originally intended for beer duty stamps, a very thick paper
watermarked with large " Q and crown." The id. and 2d. were
both printed on this paper. Some say that occasionally a vertical
row will be found with no watermark, but I think that such is not the case.
I was shown a strip by a collector who said they were " no watermark," and at
first glance I thought so too, but later on, when examining them carefully, found
a part of the watermark showing just on the edge of each stamp. This paper
was only used for a short time, when objections were made by the public that it
was too thick, and stamps often parted company with the envelopes. The id. was
then printed on plain soft paper rather thicker than the old Q and crown
paper, and as a protection a band of network (termed moiree or burele) printed in
blue horizontally across each row of stamps. After printing a few sheets of this
type it was found that there was a defect in the plate which caused the Pe of
Penny in the stamp in the northwest corner of the sheet to be blotched out,
making the value read " One nny." This was rectified and the printing proceeded
with.

The forerunner of a new series now appeared in the shape of the -|d. wrapper,
which came with the background around the head taken out. This was followed
by the id. adhesive stamp with the background removed. This came on the
ordinary Q and crown paper which had arrived meanwhile.

The 2d. was the next to appear, and up to the time of writing this is as far
as we have got in the way of new designs.

Recently (about June, as near as I can remember) a letter card was issued ol
the value of 2d. This is a delusion and a snare, as the ordinary letter rate is 2d.
to any address in the colonies, and I should not be surprised if it is withdrawn
or the value altered to three halfpence, as the N. S. W. folks have theirs.

Since the production of the letter card some more provisional adhesives have
appeared. This time it is the \&. (new type), which for some reason was printed
on the burele paper. This was on sale for four days, and as I live some distance
(130 miles) from the capital, to which, I believe, the sale was limited, I consider
myself fortunate in possessing two used specimens, though doubtless I shall come
across some more in due time.

The |d. was then printed on the beer duty paper ; this was on sale for three
days only, when they were printed on plain paper, but with a secret mark.

As a finish to this article, I will give a synopsis of the recent provisionals and
also a list of stamps, &c, at present in use, as I find many do not know what
stamps are issued by our Government.

QUEENSLAND.

On Beer Duty Paper.

1. id., type A4 in Scott's, but without period after Penny. Orange-red.

2. 2d., same, blue,

3. -Jd., type A6 in Scott's, but with head on white.

On White Paper with Burele on baek.

4. Jd., type, similar to No. 3, green.

5. id., tyre, similar to No. 1, orange-red.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

On White Paper with Secret Jlfark.

6. -Jd., type similar to No. 3, green.

ERROR.

7. id., (No. 5), One. nny, orange-red.

REGULAR ISSUE.

In use at present date, August 19, 1895. This does not exactly allude to the

on sale, but these are the regular issue.

is., type of 6d., mauve.
2s , ,, brown.

2s. 6d., Scott's A5. vermilion.
5s., ,, carmine.

1 os., „ brown.

20s. 5 ,, green.

All the above are on white paper watermarked with a crown over the letter Q.
The ^d., being oblong, has the watermark with the crown toward the left. From
the id. to 2s. the crown is at the top : the other (high) values, being extra large,
have two watermarks to each stamp — one below the other, with the crowns
toward the sides. Perforated 12^.

ERRORS.

These can scarcely be called the regular issue, but as they occur in the same
types I think this is the best place so mention them.

^d., as the

" secret mark " is still on s

•^d., type similar to No. 3, green.

id., „

,, ,, i 1, orange-red.

2d., „

,, ,, 1, blue.

2*d., „

,, to Scott's Ay, rose.

3d-, „

„ ,, A4, brown.

4d-> »

,, to No. 1, yellow.

6d., „

„ ,, 1, green.

4d., spelled Penge.

4d., spelled Pence.

6d., Queensland spelled Queensiand.

4d., imperforate.

5s., imperforate.

ios., imperforate.

3d., imperforate.

CARDS, ETC.

id., rose.

id. -f- id., rose, reply,
il , brown.

i^d. + ijd., brown, reply.
rd., wrapper, green, type of adhesive.

2d., letter card, blue on bluish.
No stamped envelopes are issued for this colony.

rail.

NEWSPAPER STAMPS.

id., red on white, no watermark.

id., red on white, watermarked Q and crown.

3d., brown on white, no watermark.

6d., green on white, no watermark.

is., violet on white, no watermark.

These stamps are used exclusively for sending bulk parcels of newspapers by

From the "Eastern Philatelist."

DEATH OF LORD KINGSTON. 13

DEATH OF LORD KINGSTON.

'EATH has removed yet another eminent philatelist in the very prime
of life. Lord Kingston, after many months of patient suffering,
died at Cairo on Monday, the 13th of January, aged 48.

Henry Ernest Newcomen King-Tenison, Earl of Kingston, County
Roscommon, Viscount Kingston of Kingsborough, County Sligo,
Viscount Lorton of Boyle, County Roscommon, Baron Kingston of
Rockingham, County Roscommon, Baron of Erris, County Ros-
common, in the Peerage of Ireland, and a Baronet, was the younger son of
the sixth Earl (who was previously Viscount Lorton) by his marriage with
Anne, daughter of the late Sir Robert Gore Booth, Bart., and was born in
1848. He was Lieutenant Colonel of the 5th Battalion of the Connaught
Rangers (Militia), and a Magistrate for the Counties of Roscommon and Leitrim,
and was Lord Lieutenant for the former county. He succeeded his brother, the
seventh Earl, in 1871, and in the following year married Florence Margaret
Christina, only surviving child and heiress of the late Mr. Edward King-Tenison,
of Kilronan Castle (whose name he assumed by Royal license in 1883), by Lady
Louisa Anson. The late Lord Kingston was a representative Peer for Ireland.
The title passes to his only surviving son, Henry Edwyn, Viscount Kingsborough,
born in 1874, wno was educated at Eton, and is a lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion
Leicestershire Regiment (Militia).

The Earl of Kingston was an enthusiastic stamp collector. He became a
member of the Philatelic Society of London in 1887. Proposed by his relative,
Mr. Thornhill, and seconded by the late Mr. T. K. Tapling, he was elected at a
meeting of the society held at the Salisbury Hotel, on the 18th of March of
that year.

At the Society's great International Exhibition of Postage Stamps held in
London in 1890, he won one of the gold medals for his exhibit of the' issues of
Great Britain, which was thus described in the official catalogue: — "a nearly
complete set of English issues, unused, containing proofs of the Mulready
envelope on India paper and on card, together with the V.R. black id. essay, and
interesting specimens of the original Heath die of the id., without the engraving
of the head ; all the later varieties and other interesting specimens." Like other
industrious members he was continually adding to his treasures, and at the time of
his death it was a truly grand collection. In some ways it was considerably finer
than Mr. Philbrick's, but he did not include Telegraph Stamps. Its distinguishing
feature was an abundance of large blocks and strips of stamps in mint condition.
The finest block was probably a large one from the upper portion of a sheet, with
margins, complete, ot the id. black from plate 11. This grand block is, we
believe the only one known of this rare plate. He had a fine set of the early
pennies in blocks, notably, a block of six of the id. red brown, large crown, pert".
16. In the twopennies he was not so strong, but he had the rare plate 7. Of
the octagonal stamps he had what is believed to be unique, namely, an entire
sheet, less one corner stamp, of the one shilling green embossed, and he was
fairly strong in the iod. and 6d. issues. He had some fine copies of the 4d.
small garter, and the cross and anchor watermarks of the £i% 10s., and 5s. ; of
the gd. hair line he had a used copy. The whole collection was beautifully
arranged with a true artist's regard for geometrical design. The work of hinging
and arranging was done with his own hand, for he was no mere accumulator.
He took a specialist's pride in displaying his own stamps. An old fashioned love

14 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

for the book form of album led him to prefer massive volumes with fixed leaves
for the final enshrinement of his gems. There was a finality about the presenta-
tion of the collection such as few, if any. of our restless, present-day specialists
would ever dream of emulating. From the ideal point of view, of course, finally
arranged pages of set design, and being, like unto the laws of the Medes and
Persians, unalterable, is, and ever must be, the ultimate goal. But who ever
expects to reach it in these days of surprises, finds, and discoveries ? Who does
not secretly believe that he may some day add yet another distinct shade, or a
more perfect copy to even his most perfect page ? In the Kingston collection
there was repose and finality. On the occasion of his last visit to the Philatelic
Society tof London the late Earl laid his handsome, massive volumes on the table
with the air of a man who had completed his task; and for him, indeed, it was
completed.

Two to three years ago he was a very active member of the Philatelic Society
of London, and read several interesting papers giving the results of his own
study. One was on " Humphry's retouch of the one penny of Great Britain,
1854." another on the " three halfpence die of Great Britain, i860," a third paper
dealt with the " De-oxidation of Postage Stamps." Though terribly shattered in
health he attended and personally read the last-mentioned paper at a meeting of
the Society held at Effingham House on the 19th of October, 1894. That was
his last appearance at a meeting of the Society. He had brought his collection
over from Ireland, he said, to show it to the members before he died. '* No,
no," protested the hon secretary, "you will pull round all right again" " No,"
he replied, sadly. '• I feel that my days are numbered."

He went abroad, and in response to anxious inquiries he was at times
reported to be improving and then going back, till, as a last resource, he
underwent a very serious operation, an operation which few ever survive. But he
survived, so much so that life seemed once more to look hopeful for him.

"Our readers," said the October London Philatelist, " will share with us our
great gratification in being able to announce the continued improvement in
health of the esteemed President. A most serious operation was undergone by
Lord Kingston a few weeks since, which has hitherto been attended by the most
gratifying results, and we are enabled to state from personal experience that his
lordship is at present in the enjoyment of better health and spirits than has been
the case for months past." Alas, it was only a temporary rally. And just when
we were all hoping and believing that the genial philatelist would soon be back
with health fully restored, the sad news came that yet another prominent member
of the premier Society had been cut off in the flush of manhood and philatelic
success.

The death of Lord Kingston leaves a vacancy in the post of President of the
Society, which it will be difficult to fill. The late earl was unanimonsly elected to
the office on the retirement of Mr. Philbrick, Q.C., in 1892. His social rank
and his position as a philatelist who had won his spurs in open competition with
his fellow philatelists, were a happy combination of qualifications for the position
to which he was so cordially elected.

REVIEWS. 15

REVIEWS.

The African Colonies. Part I.

The Postage Stamps, Envelopes, Wrappers, Post Cards, and Telegragh Stamps of the
British Colonies, Possessions and Protectorates in Africa. Part I. Compiled and
published by the Philatelic Society, London,

This latest work of the Philatelic Society of London marks a new departure
in the matter of production. The illustrations, instead of being grouped together
in separate autotype plates, are sprinkled about in the text in the shape of
engraved process blocks. The advantage of textual illustration is unquestionable,
but there is no denying the fact that process engraving is not so clear and good
for the purposes of study as the autotype. Envelopes, wrappers, and postcards
are grouped into eight sheets of photo-mezzotype illustrations, all of which are
very clear, some remarkably so.

Turning to the text we note that the work deals only with British Bechuana-
land, British East Africa, British South Africa (including British Central Africa),
and the Cape of Good Hope, leaving the remaining colonies for a second part.

Taking the colonies in detail we find the twopence British Bechuanaland with
2d. blue-green surcharge chronicled as a pair in the Tapling collection on the
original envelope. The surcharge " Protectorate " in small block capitals is
discredited. It is a pity that the source of supply of this variety cannot be traced.
Of the surcharge "Protectorate" in larger type we are told that only 800 were
printed, and yet the stamp seems to be fairly common. Of the " One — Half —
Penny " in three lines on the 3d., only 700 are said to have been printed, and
collectors are warned against forged inverted surcharges and errors of spelling.

The imperforate issues of British East Africa are now stated on the authority
of the company to have been issued "and sold at the company's offices in the
usual manner. They were used for postage, and are still available for such
purpose." The following is a list of the officially recognised imperforate

issues

\ anna brown
1 anna green
2a vermilion
2£a black on yellow
3a black on rose red

•4a pal > red brown

4*a lil c

8a bine

1 rupee rose.

As to the errors of colour, i.e., the gray stamps, the company state that " it
was at first intended to use them for inland revenue purposes, but, as this was
found inconvenient, it was decided to use up those already printed for postal
pui poses. Fortunately, only a few of the eight annas and one rupee had been
printed. The four annas, gray, had not advanced beyond the imperforate stage,
and those we had in that form were sold and used along with the others, in the
usual course."

The following stamps are chronicled as having escaped perforation between
some of the rows : —

\x\ brown. imperforate vertically
2!a black on yellow ., ,,

3a black on rose red ., ,,

4}a lilac ., .,

|a brown, imperforate horizon '.a'. ly
2^a black on yellow „ „

3a black on rose red ,, „

4a lilac ,. „

Mr. Bacon contributes to the section dealing with the Cape of Good Hope a
mass of valuable information as to the dates of issue and the numbers printed of
the early stamps. The numbers printed of the triangular series were : —

lp, 5,850,000 I 6p, 920,000

4p, 7,510,000 Is., 380.160

And as to the so-called "wood-blocks" the Postmaster-General of the Colony

16 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

supplies the following interesting information, showing that they were not
" wood-blocks " in the sense of being printed from engravings on wood : —

The stamps were printed by Saul Solomon & Co., of 49 and 50, St. George's Street, Cape Town,
the one penny on April 10th, 1861, and the four pence on April 12th of the same year. The
original dies for the stamps were engraved on steel, from which sixty -four impressions were afterwards
taken of each value, by what is known as the stereotype process. These impressions were cemented
on to a wooden block to form the printing plate, hence the designation "wood-blocks" that has
always been applied to these two stamps. The sixty-four impressions of both values were each
arranged in four horizontal rows of sixteen stamps to the row. forming eight squares, and in cementing
the impressions on to the two wooden blocks, one of the four pennies was by mistake placed among
the one pennies, and vice versa, thus accounting for the two well-known errors of these stamps. The
number of the one penny stamps printed was 24,600, while there were 1*2,8*0 of the fourpence, and
both values were issued as soon as they were obtained from the printers. Laid paper with fairly wide
lines was used, and although the laid lines in some specimens are only visible in part, and on others
are apparently altogether absent, the quality and make of the paper seems nevertheless the same
throughout the issue.

The number of the errors of course entirely depends upon whether the mistakes on the plates
were noticed and corrected previous to the completion of the printings. Supposing they had been, I
cannot but think that the errors would at once have been cut out of the sheets and destroyed.
According to the number of stamps printed, there were at the most but 201 of the one penny error,
and 386 of the four pence error, so the only surprise is that these stamps are not even rarer than they
are.

Only one printing of these provisional stamps was required, as on referring to the appendix it
will be noticed that Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co. forwarded further large supplies of One Penny
and Four Penny stamps to the colony on the 1st and 29th of April, and again on the 8th of May, 1861.
The provisional stamps could not, therefore, have been wanted beyond a few weeks, but no doubt the
stock printed off of both values was used up by the Post O.fice.

In the matter of type and printing, the work is not what it should be. Errors
of spelling, battered type, and letters of wrong founts, are abundant. One
correspondent totals them up at over 1,200 !

An Azores Catalogue.

Stamps Catalogue and Price List for 1896. Manuel Fen-eira Travassos, Stamp Dealer,

St. Michaels, Azores.

We have received a " Stamps Catalogue and Price List for 1896," published
by " Manuel Ferreira Travassos, stamp dealer, St. Michaels, Azores." It is
confined to the stamps of Azores and Portugal, which are priced in English
currency. The preface is a curiosity, as illustrating " English as she is spoke "
in the Azores. It reads as follows : —

This is the first page that you ought to read before you see our price list. Lately has appeared
in the circulation Azorean stamps with false surcharges not only in the Azores but also in Portugal
and in many other foreign countries. We always become surprised when we have opportunity to see
some foreign stamp catalogues, and looking at the two first issues price list almost complete, when
those stamps are so rare here in the Azores, that there are only four or five collectors in all the
islands who may have the Azorean set completed ! ! ! This is the advertisement we make to the
stamp collectors, to be careful with the Azores stamps sold by other houses.

A Catalogue of U.S. Stamps.

United Stales Comprehensive Catalogue, 1896. Henry Gremmel, 85, Nassau

Street, New Fork.

Mr. Gremmel, of New York, has published in pamphlet form the excellent
catalogue of United States stamps contributed to the pages of the Post Office by
Mr. Crawford Capen, to which are added the prices at which the stamps may be
obtained from the publisher. The great rarities are only approximately priced.
The Alexandria 5 c. is priced at /^3°° 5 Baltimore 10 c, ^'240; Milbury 5c,
£100, and Brattlebro' 5c, ^130. Illustrations are given to guide the collector
in the work of distinguishing national from continental plates.

NEW ISSUES.

NEW ISSUES,

Borneo. — The current set are said to have
been surcharged "postage due,"

British Central Africa.— We have
received the twopenny British South Africa stamp,
surcharged " B,C,A,," altered to a Id, value by a
surcharge in black, with the words one penny in
Boraan capitals in one line. The original value
is obliterated with a thick bar.

Adhesives. — Id. on 2d. red and olire, black surcharge.

British East Africa.— Much makeshift

surcharging has been taking place in this territory
consequent on the change from the Chartered
Company to Imperial control. First the stock in
hand at Mombasa of the Company's stamps were
all roughly surcharged with a band stamp British
East Africa in three lines. Then the Indian
stamps at Zanzibar were surcharged with the
same words to keep up the supply till special
stamps for the colony were received. These are
said to be on their way. The two surcharges
vary in detail. That on the Company's stamps
is in capitals nnd small capitals, and measures as
follows : — '' British," 11 £ mm. ; " East," 7 mm. ;
" Africa," 11 mm,, on all values. On the Indian
stamps the sin charge is in capitals and small
letters, and measures as follows, on values ex-
pressed in "Annas": — "British," 11 mm.;
" Ea9t," 7 mm.; "Africa," 11 mm. But on
the rupee values the surcharge is slightly larger,
and measures as follows : — " British," 12 mm. ;
" East," 8 mm, ; "Africa," II mm. We illus-
trate the surcharge on the Company's stamps,
and as we have only chronicled the series in in-
stalments, we now tabulate each series from full
sets which we have received.

Adhesives.
On I. B. E. Company's stamps :

1 a

2 a
2£a
2£a.

3 a.

4 a.
4ja.
6 a.
7Ja.
* a.

1 r.

2 r

3 r

4 r
B r

, brown,

j green,

> red,

, black on yellow,

, in red on 4i mauve,

, brown on red,

, brown

violet,

black on blue-green,

black,

blue,
, rose,

, brown. red.
, slate-violet,
, bright blue,
, olive-green

black surcharge.

On Indian stamps : —

1 a.,
l£a.

2 a..
2£a.

3 a.,

4 a..
6 a.
8 a.

12 a.

1 r.>

2 r.,

3 r

5 r.

green,

plum,

brown,

blue,

in red, on l£a., brown,
, orange,
. olive,
, bistre,

purple*

brown on red,

slate,

. carmine and brown,
, brown and green,
, blue and violet.

black surjhai g«

British South Africa. —Mr. D.Montague
Jacobs sends us the 2d. value on thicker paper,
and the colour changed from olive to green. The
4d. has also been printed on thicker paper and
colours changed to pale brown. The varieties
are due to a change of printers.

2d., red and green.

4d., pale brown.

Bulgaria.— According to the Timbre Post the
Is. on 2s. is known with the surcharge reversed.
Adhesive. Is. on 2s., surcharge inverted.

Ceylon. — Several values of the current
series have been surcharged "on service," in two
lines in black.

Curacao.— The 10c. of the old head of
King series has been surcharged "2^ cent." in
one line in red. The Jf. J. says the remainders
so surcharged were 45,080. A new 10c. head of
Queen has also made its appearance.

Adhesivts. 2£c. on 10c. grey, red surcharge.
10c. ultramarine.

Fernando Po.— It is reported that new
stamps are being prepared of the same type as
the new Spanish.

Gibraltar. — Two new values have been
added to the current type.

Adhesives. 20 c. olive.

2 p., black and carmine.

Grenada. — Mr. Mackenzie sends us a list of
the values in the new type, as illustrated : —

2£d. grey and blue.
3d. grey and orange.
6d. grey and green.

Adhes.vt

8d. grey and black.
Is. green and orange.

Honduras. — The new Seebecks have been
received as per list.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Adhesives.

Ic. vermilion.
2c deep blue.
5c. grey.
10c. carmine.

20c. blue.
30c. lilac.
50cbrown.
lp. green.

Envelopes.
3c. grey-black. 10c. brown- violet.

Foitcards.

2c. green on buff. 3c. green on lilac.

2c. by 2c. green on buff. 3c. by 3c. green on lilac.

India. — "We illustrate the new surcharge—
" Postal Service."

Mauritius.— We have received the 3c. of
the new design which we will illustrate in our
next number. It is a pleasing departure from
the monotonous De la Rue type. The arms of
the Colony on a fanciful shield occupies the centre
of the stamp ; above is the word " Mauritius,"
and curved, and in a straight label at the bottom
of the shield is the " 3 cents." A correspondent
writing from Port Louis on the 20th of December,
says 100,000 of stamps of this new design had
been received, and that 80O.000 more were
expected, but report anticipated that they might
be of a different colour. Another report states
that the stamp is to be withdrawn because of the
omission of the word "Postage,"

Wmk., crown and c c, perf. 14.
Adhesive. 3c, lilac.
Wrapper. 3c, green on buff.
Post Card. 2c„ black on white.

Perak. — We illustrate the new type already
chronicled by us.

Salvador. — More Seebecks, with alarming
developments, as per illustrations.

Adhesives.

Parcel Post Stamps :—

5c.
inc.
15c.

, orange.
, blue,
red.

20c, yellow.
50c, green.

Money Order Stamps : —

lc.

2c.
3c.

7c.
10c.

green.
t>rown.
carmine,
dark blue,
orang".

25c, dark blue.
50c, grey lilac.
100c, yellow green.
200c, dark violet.

Unpaid Letter Stamps : —
lc, 2c, 3c, 5c, 10c, 15c, 25c, and 50c, olive.

Letter Cards.

2c, green on pale given.
2c x ic,

3c, red on pale red.
3c x 3c,

5c, blue on pale blue.
5c x 5c, „ „

Transvaal. — We have received the Jd. with
disselboom to replace double shaft to wagon
The inevitable " error that was discovered and
afterwards corrected," has at last turned up on
the recent surcharge " Halve Penny " on Is.
green. It takes the form of "Pennij." One
industrious possessor of sheets is spreading the
report that only 50 sheets were printed, but as
one casual caller at a post office informs us that
he got six sheets, they will probably be plen-
tiful enough in due time when the official
cornerers are pleased to put their stock on sale.

*jd., pale grey, one pole.

£d., on Is. green, error pennij.

Zanzibar. — For more than a month past
Indian stamps surcharged " Zanzibar" with capi-
tal and small letters, have franked letters to this
country. A special series in De la Rue type is; we
hear, in preparation. In the surcharge the second
" z " is generally misplaced. Being of a smaller
fount it shifts about, and is found sometimes above
and sometimes below the level of the other lettei s.
The surcharge is in black, and measures 15 J mm.

Adhesives.
£a., green,
la., plum.
l£a., brown.
2 1., blue.
2£a., green.

2£ in red on l£a., brown.
3a., orange.
4a., olive.
6a., bistre.
8a., purple.
12a., brown on red.
lr., slate.

2r. , carmine and brown.
3i\, brown and green.
5r., blue and violet.

Error.
6a., bistre surcharge "Zanzidar."

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

U.S. Stamps on Ribbed Paper.

Mr. Crawford Capen, who lias done so
much to popularise the minor varieties of
U. S. stamps, is now directing attention to
the study of stamps on ribbed paper. In
an opening article in the December number
of the Post Office he tells us that the ribbing
is sometimes vertical and sometimes hori-
zontal, but the vertical shows most plainly.

The date of the issue of these stamps does not
appear to be established, if we may judge from
the dates given in the lists that have been pub-
lished. The paper seems to have been used all
through the year 1875. and we have to the
present time seen no evidence which inclines us
to believe that it was in use before that year.
The three cent, of which we have the largest
number, is always found in the bright, dark
yellow green shade of ink which was used in
187*2. The two cent brown was printed in the
shade of ink last used for the two cent brown
stamp. The best specimen of a horizontally
ribbed stamp which we possess is a five cent blue
Taylor from an early and good plate made by the
Continental Company, which stamp was not issued
until October 5th, 1875. The fifteen cent is of
the orange shade of 1875, and the seven cent and
twelve cent are of the latest shades used for
printing those stamps.

United States Department stamps on ribbed
paper are very scarce, and the most that we have
seen of them have b<>en stamps that were marked
specimen. As the circular announcing the sale of
specimen stamps by tbe Government was issued
March 27th, 1875, this is a further indication of
the date of the use of the ribbed paper.

The Cornered Stamp.

Under this heading a writer in the
Eastern Philatelist (U. S.) condemns the
practice of cornering stamps as an abomina-
tion, but he tells us by way of consolation
that it is not an unmixed evil.

There are many modifying conditions, especially
in that branch of monopoly which relies on the
pleasure-seeking good will of the consumer. If
a combination of men seek to control the supply
of a certain postage stamp, they are under several
obligations to collectors at large. They will be
afraid t > raise the price to an exorbitant figure, or
.i boycott of tin ir ware will bring them to terms.
Their monopoly will benefit not only themselves.
loit also the lone collector who holds a more or
less abundant supply of the cornered stamp.
Their trust may yield a golden fruit, but it harms
no one ; you need not purchase unless you wish,
and no one is at hazard save the speculators
themselves.

If these are all the modifying conditions
in the business the less said about it the
better. The only hope lies in the prospect
of the . " cornerers " burning their fingers.
And if collectors will treat "cornerers " as

the natural enemies of philately, and refuse
to do business with those who gamble for
an artificial rise, the end will not be
far off.

Belgian Unpaid Letter Stamps.

Mr. Jules Bouvez contributes to the
December number of the American Journal
of Philately a very interesting history of
the first issue of the unpaid letter stamps
of Belgium. These stamps were first
brought into use in 1870, and despite the
fact that they have remained in issue up to
1895, we are informed that of the large
quantities used only 11,029 of the 10c. and
93,765 of the 20c. were attached to articles
available for collectors. Consequently M.
Bouvez believes that they will soon be
considered rarities. There has also been a
provisional : —

We will also point out a special circumstance
which deserves attention, On the 1st April. 1895,
several Belgian post offices being without unpaid
letter stamps of 10 and 20 centimes, because a
fresh stock of these values had not beeu able to
reach them in time, it was necessary to replace
them provisionally. The offices which were in
this position, not having received any instructions,
and not being able to delay the distribution of the
"catch" letters, used postage stamps of 5 centimes
green, 10 centimes bistre, and 20 centimes olive,
shorn of their Sunday slip, and surcharged with
a black T (Taxe) applied by means of a hand
stamp with thick ink. The use of these provisional
unpaid letter stamps was, however, not of long
duration, for as soon as the authorities learnt th it
the stock was exhausted they hastened the ship-
ment of unpnid letter stamps.

A " Beer and Baccy " Postcard.

When the New Zealand Postal Authori-
ties so quickly abandoned the printing
of advertisements on the backs of their
stamps, it was generally hoped and
believed that we had seen the last of that
objectionable form of adding to the postal
revenue. But the Colony of Victoria has
recently let space on the address side of
its post cards for the advertisement of
tobacco and lager beer. The Australian
correspondent of the London Philatelist
tells us that this venture has roused a
perfect storm in the Colony.

Minister total abstiiners from beer and
tobacco, Secretaries to Young Mens' Christian
Associations, &e . have taken strong objectio is to
demoralising advertisements. They have cut
tnem off, or pasted paper over them, only to find
that the mutilated or covered card is charged 2d.
on delivery ! Mr, Duffy, the Postmaster-General,
says that revenue is wanted, and if any members

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

of the public object to use the advertisement
cords, thev can use their own cards, with a Id.
adhesive stamp. I think, however, that the reign
of the "Beer and Baccy" caid will he a short
one, as even now non-abstainers dislike the thing
and complain about it.

The Good Time Coming.

The Philatelic World keeps an expert
versifier on the premises. Here is a
sample : —

Oh for a good time coming —
When the world shall be delivered from

" commemoration '' trash,
With the Sydney O.S. shivered, and the

reprint gone to smash ;
When our dripping pens flow freely with each

faking forger's gore ;
When the seebecks cease from troubling, and

the gumbugs glare no more.

Shylock Up-to-date.

We must also find space for another
"fragment" entitled "Shylock up to
date," which deals with the extortionate
levy of the Indian Customs Authorities on
consignments of stamps, and bears the new
familiar signature " Dak."

Duke (to Shylock) —

Shylock, the world thinks (and I think so too)
That thou'lt but learn the spirit of the tariff
To the last clause of th'act ; and then, 'tis

thought,
Thou'lt show thy mercy and good sense

more strange
Than is thy strange apparent selfishness,
And, where thou exactest the penalty
(Some five per cent, of good Antonio's cash)
Thou wilt be blind to that the tariff saith,
And touched with human friendliness, wilt

wink
Thy dexter optic upon principle,
Glancing the other eye upon his worries
That have of late so huddled on his back
(Enough to press a royal collector down)
And pluck commiseration of his state
From faking forgers with rough hearts of flint,
From gumbug folk, and seebecks never trained
To tender thought for fair philately.
We wish a gentle answer, don't you know !
Shy.

I have possessed your grace of what I purpose,
And by our Clive Street have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of the Act.
If you deny it, let my minious light
Upon your baggage and your weekly mails.
You ask me why I rather choose to place
A toll on carrying stamps than to receive
Your thanks to pass them. I'll not answer

that,
But say it is my orders. Are you answered ?
Ant.

'Tis a hard answer, thou unfeeling man,
To curb the current of Philately.

N.S.W. Recent Issues.

The Australian Philatelist is doing good service
in publishing a series of articles bringing the
London Society's work on " Oceania " up to date.
As a sample of the work we quote the Reference
List of the Centennial and Postal Union Series.

Centennial Series.
Dates of issue as gazetted.

Id., 9th July, 1888.
£1, 1st May, 1888.
2d., 2nd Sept., 1*88.
4d., 4th October, 1888.

(5d., 26th Nov., 1888.
8d.,17th January, 1889.
Is., 20th Feb., 1889.
•5s., ]3th March. 1889.

Id., violet, wmk. N.S.W. and Crown, perf.
12, 11 X 12, 12 X H|, 11 X H|.

Id., violet, wmk. N.S.W. (Stamp Duty paper),
perf. 11 X 12.

2d., blue. wmk. N.S.W. and Crown, perf.
12, 11 X 12, 12 X 1H; 11 X 11$, imperf.

2d., blue, wmk. (Stamp Duty paper), perf
11 X 12.

4d., brown, wmk. N.SW. and Crown, perf.
12, 11 X 12, 12 X Hi-

Gd., rosine, wmk. N.S.W. and Crown, perf.
12, 11 X 12, 11 X 11*.

8d., plum, wmk. N.S.W. and Crown, perf.
12, 11 X 12, 11 by 11£.

Is., brown violet, wmk. N.S.W. and Crown,
perf. 12, 11 X 12. 11 X 11$,

5s., purple, wmk. 5/-, perf. 10.

os., purple, wmk. 51- N.S.W. (within diamond),
perf. 10, 12, 10 X 11.

20s., blue, wmk. 5/-, perf. 10

20s., blue, wmk. 20/- N.S.W. (within circle),
perf. 10.

Postal Union Series.

Dates of issue as gazetted.

2£d., 5th December, 1890.

£d., (surcharged) I
7£d., „ I 13th January, 1891,

12£4., „ \

£d., 29th February, 1-92.

2^., ultramarine, wmk., N.S.W. and Crown
perf. 12, 11 X 12, 12 X H|

2d., grey and black, wmk, N.S.W. and Crown,
perf., 10, 11 X 12.

Id. (error, without surcharge), grey.

7|d., brown and black, wmk., N.S W. and
Crown, perf. 10, 11 X 12.

12d., red and black, wmk., N.S.W. and Crown,
perf. 10, 11 X 12.

|d., grey, wmk., N.S.W.. and Crown, perf.
11 X 12, 12, 12 X 10, 10, 11 X Hi,

3d, (Diadem), green, wmk., italic 10, perf. 10.

U.S. Plates.

The New York Correspondent of the
Philatelic Era tells us that —

After the contracts for the manufacture of the
stamps of the United States had been turned
over to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving,
and the American Bank Note Co. had no more
use for the plates, they have all been cancelled
and thus made useless for any further printing.
After this had been done five cart loads loaded
with as much as two horses could draw were
sent over to the Navy Yard in Brooklyn

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

and the fine steel plates used "in the repair shops
for our Navy.

End of the N.S.W. Swindle.

The Monthly Journal publishes the fol-
lowing extract from the Australian Star
of October 31st last, in reference to
the bogus New South Wales Eeprints of
the 0.8. stamps.

The philatelists of the colony are very much
annoyed at the action of Postmaster- General
■Cook, in debasing the stamp currency of the
Colony at cheap rates, and to-day a deputation
from the society waited on Mr. Cook to argue the
point with him. The deputation did not mince
words. They considered that the issue of stamps
purporting to be postmarked which were out of
date, and had never been through the post,
amounted, for all practical purposes, to a forgery.
Any private individual who made a postmark
en stamps was a forger, and to them the
department seemed equally culpable. Stamp
collectors obtained stamps which had been used
for franking letters, but here the Government
was selling copies, which never had franked
letters, as genuine. The result was a great
injury to the dealers, and the Government
seemed to be following in the lines of South
America republics, where the revenue was some-
times assisted by bargaining with New York
stamp dealers. As a result of the conversation,
the Minister promised that lie would not have
any more of the stamps printed. He explained
that altogether a thousand sets were printed, and
•of these a considerable number had been sold.
He would not withdraw any of the balance from
sale, but when they were all disposed of, that
would complete the issue.

The cool audacity of the concluding
announcement is quite on a par with the
conception of the swindle.

The English 3d. of 1873.
Mr. Ewan, in his excellent English
Specialists' Journal, now in its third
number, gives us some very interesting
particulars concerning the 3d. adhesive
of 1873. He writes : — -

Between 1873 and 1880. ten plates of the
Threepenny Adhesive were constructed, numbered
11 to '20. No. 13 Mas found to be defective and
was never used. Of the remaining nine, seven
were brought into use during the first three years
of this period (1 873-75), whilst the other two
were sufficient to supply all threepenny stamps
that were required during 1876-80. The single
letter rate to France and the continent generally
was reduced in 1875 from 3d. to 2Jd., hence the
unequal demand.

I recently had an opportunity of examining a
large correspondence, and have been able to
ascertain fairly correctly when each plate was in
use. The catalogue of English stamps, published
by Messrs. Hilckes & C »., Ltd., is the only one
at present that gives the date of issue of each
.plate, and as the dates given there are in every

case quite unreliable, I publish the results of my
search.

Plate. Registered. Hilckes. Earnest date

found by me.

11 Dec. 21st, 1872 July 15th, 1873 London, E.C.

July 12th, 1873.

12 June 21st, 1873 Feb. 18th, 1874 London, E.C,

Oct. 28th, 1873.

14 Aug. 27th, 1873 June 2nd, 1874 London, E C.

April 29th, 1874.

15 Nov. 25th. 1873 Nov.—, 1874 Huddersfield,

Aug. — , 1874.

16 June 10th, 1874 March 8th, 1875 Lo-idon, E.C.

Jan. 11th, 1875.

17 Sept. 30th, 1874 July 1st, 1875 London, E.C.

April 14th, 1875.

18 Jan. 26th, 1875 March, 1876 London, E.C.

Sept. 14th, 1875,

19 May 7th, 1875 Dec. 1st, 1*7*5 London, E.C.

July 17th, 1876.

20 Nor. 29th, 1878 April 16th, 1880 Glasgow,

Nov. 20th, 1879.

The periods during which these plates were
in use were as follows : —

Plate. Issue. Period cf u e.

1 1 July, 1873, to Januarv, 1874 *4-3 2 months.

12 October, 1873, to July, 1874 S-fi/2 „

14 April, 1874, to November, 1874 1-7/2

15 August, 1H74, to March, 1-75 1-" 2 „

16 January, 1875, to July, 1875 1-6/2

17 April, 1H75, to January, 1876 1-8 2 „

18 September, lb75,toDecember,lb77 18-10/2,,

19 July, 1876, to January, 1880 24-7 2 „

20 November,1879, to J inuary, 18^1 12-3/2 „

The above figures show how little reliance
ahould be placed on the period of use, when con-
sidering the relative value of the plates. Plate
18, longer in use than any other plate except 19,
is the rarest, whilst plates 15 and 10, in use the
shortest period, are by far the commonest. Plate
19 was only temporarily issued during the latter
half of 1870. The general issue of this plate
commenced about January, 1878.

'unaiis4 months alone and 3 months side by side with
another stump.

Stamps v. Diamonds.

Mr. L. Seidenberg, writing on the
"Financial Stability of Stamps" in the
Philatelic Journal of America, contends
that stamps stand unrivalled and unique
in their position as a joint source of
pleasure and profit. He says : —

11 Let us compare them with 'diamonds. Fresh
supplies of diamonds are constantly being dis-
covered, and the value of those already on the
market is theiefore seldom permitted to advance,
as the supply keeps fairly* abreast with the
volume of consumption. Not so with stamps,
and particularly with the rarest philatelic sems.
It is the exception that a fresh supply of any
extremely rare label is brought to light, and even
then it is not likely that prices will be depreciated
for the supply can never be in proportion
to the growth of population, and the greater
proportionate increase in the number of collectors.
The probabilities are that philatelic rarities will
become more precious gems every year because of
this disproportionate increase in the number of
collectors, the lack of supply, and because of the
likelihood of the destruction from one of many
causes of some of them."

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

An Unchronicled Italian Error.

The Australian correspondent of the
London Philatelist tells of an unchronicled
error of Italy. He writes : —

About twelve years ago I had an approval
sheet from a leading (then and now) English
dealer, from which I took a stamp purporting to
be tbe 40c., ]854, Italy. It was undoubtedly a
genuine used stamp, and had not been removed
from the piece of original letter. On closely
examining it, however, I found the inscription
embossed to be •' c. cinque " instead of " c.
quaranta.'' I prized tbat stamp very much ;
and it was only the temptation of the late Dr.
Ellison. who offered the two Cape " wood-blocks"
in exchange, that induced me to part with it. As
late as 1892, I saw it again at Brisbane, Q,., in
Dr. Ellison's collection ; but where it has gone
to since his decease I know not. I have never
seen this particular error chronicled, and yet
there must have been at least one whole sheet
printed.

A Successful Exchange Club.

The Siai/ij) Collectors' Fortnightly (Jan. 25)
publishes a very interesting interview with
Mr. F. A. Wickhart, the indefatigible sec-
retary of the Northern Stamp Exchange
Society. The great obstacles to success in
exchange clubs, as every collector knows
to his cost, are the scramble for first choice,
delays, and an insufficient supply of good
stamps. Mr. Wickhart has his own
vigorous and efficient method of dealing
with each of these difficulties, as the fol-
lowing extract will show : —

" How do you manage to gel»such fine sheets?"
I asked.

{: By adhering strictly to the rules I have
framed, There is no favouritism whatever. The
next position to my own on the postal list is
balloted for every month ; this gives even the
smallest collector- mem her a chance of early view ;
then the names follow in order of value (not
always the owners' value but sometimes my
estimated value) of sheets. I occasionally find
that a member will mark one or two stamps ex-
cessively high, in order ti get near ihe top, but
it is wasted effort, for I reserve the right to place
the members according to the real value of the
sheets sent in. My other rules include one pro-
hibiting a member from making any marks on
another member's sheet, except it be to note a
forgery, in which case the name has to be
appended. Another provides that every member
shall be responsible for the packet from the time
he receives it until he hands it the post office for
transmission to the next member. A third rule
prohibits any member from allowing the packet
to go out of his possession, under pain of
expulsion."

" Have you ever had any stamps changed by
unprincipled members ? "

'• Only twice sim e tbe Club started. On one
occasion a couple of Cook Island stamps were
taken, and a damaged couple put in their places.
I found out. the culprit, an 1 < xnelled him from the
Club. Had the evidence hi en a little stronger, I

would have piosecuted him. It seems strange
that a man should risk his reputation and the
chance of imprisonment for the sake of a few
shillings."

" How are you able to tell if a stamp is sub-
stituted ? "

" In several ways. I conduct the ' Northern '
as a hobby, and not for any gain it may bring
(up' to the present it has been a loss), and I
devote a considerable amount of time to the
packets. I have a habit of dropping on
particular members each month before and after
they receive a packet, and having the packets
sent to me for inspection. By a private system
of listing some, and marking other stamps, I am
able to tell if a stamp has been changed, >o
member knows when he may be requested to sei d
the p icket to me. neither does he know if I have
seen the packet prior to his receiving my reque.-t
to return it to me."

An accompanying table gives the value
and of packets of the sales for each month
of the past two years. The first year's.
packets totalled up to £1537, and the sales
therefrom amounted to £318. In the next
year (1894-5) the packets increased to
£6191, and the sales to £1343.

A Great Dealer.
Mr. Sellschopp, in Philatelic Facts ai,d
Fancies, recording his impressions of a
recent visit to Europe says, of Senfs
establishment : —

The ground floor of a large brick building on
the Eilenburgerstrasse in a suburb of Leipzig is
occupied by this firm. In one corner is the pri-
vate office of the head of the firm, and from this
point he can look through two suites, each com-
posed of several large rooms. One of these
suites is occupied by quite a number of young
ladies, who handle the enormous stock of stamps
of the establishment. The arrangement of their
stock is a really ideal one. It is divided into-
what is designated as the working stock, and the
first, second, third and star reserve. It requires-
nine large safes to hold the more valuable portion
alone of the stock. The star reserve is arranged
in a fine safe in Mr. Senfs private office, and
some of the little labels in this reserve stock
actually made my mouth water. If anything in
the working stock runs short, the first reserve is
resorted to to replenish it. The second and third
reserve stocks contain mostly large quantities of
stamps that are also represented in the £rst
reserve, while the star reserve contains a limited
number of very choice specimens of almost all
kinds of stamps, common as well as rare. Only
exiremely fine stamps, in all possible shades,
cancellations, &c, are kept in this stock, and are
for the present not for sale, even at full cata-
logue.

Bargains! Bargains!

There are some good folks who believe
that the opportunities of securing bargains
in rare stamps are getting fewer and fewer

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

every year ; that in fact so much is being
published — " given away " some call it —
concerning rare varieties, that before long
the specialist's knowledge will be common
property ; that then there will be no more
bargains. True, the specialist generally
doles out his knowledge for the benefit of
his fellows ; but then the power of retaining
all such knowledge in one cranium is by no
means common property, and for that
reason alone the patient but poor collector
will probably find the excitement of rare
variety hunting as lucdftive in the twentieth
century as in the present benighted age.
Mr. Sellschopp, a keen dealer, of San
Francisco has been scouring the Fatherland
for gems, and according to his own account
in his chirpy Filatclic Facts and Fallacies,
he has no reason to regret his trip. From
the many good stories he has been telling
extract the following : —

At Leipzig I had a most enjoyable experience,
which 1 later ascertained was quite a common
thing with European dealers who visit this lown.
At a small place I found a tine unused copy of
the early impression of the Hawaiian. 1853, 13c.
vermilion, which I se< ured for about 90c. I
exhibited this git at bargain, as I considered it.
to another dealer, an intimate friend, and told
him the price I paid. lie promptly pronounced
it a counterfeit, and when I offered to pay him
a good price for similar counterfeits, he produced
a counterfeit collection containing a whole
page of Hawaiian stamps, saying, "You can
have any of the 13c. at a mark less than what
you paid the other fellow." and much to my
astonishment and pleasure I found, among cne or
two reprints and quite a number of counteifeits,
a fine genuine copy.

" But this is lobbery, pure and simple," I said,
" and I cannot take this rare stamp from you at
such a ridiculous price."

" But you must," he answered, " for if it is
genuine for you. for me it is still a counterfeit,
and 1 am not the only one who thinks so."

And thus I got another Hawaiian stamp, this
time for only 05c.

Western Australian Provisionals.
Another unnecessary issue has been
nipped in the bud, thanks to the watch
kept on postal authorities by members of
the S.S.S.S. We take the particulars from
the Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly : —

Re the late £d, stamp, surcharged in red and
green on 3d. and in green only. After these
stamps had been out of issue "for three weeks
(writes our special Western Australian Corre-
spondent) we received private information to the
effect that the P.M.G. was going to re-issue a
quantity of the above errors, and had given
orders for the printing to commence. As several
out here have joined the S.S.S.S., we saw at once
that this came under the programme of same ; so
we arranged for a deputation to wait on the
Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, and lay the
matter before him. We received an appointment

for 3.30 on the 12th. We then pointed out to
the Minister (Hon. E. H. Wittenoom), that as
the stamps were an error, any reprint of them
would be condemned by the S.S.S.S. as an unne-
cessary and speculative issue. The Minister
knew nothing about the issue till he saw-
Mr. Fothergill on the previous day, so he now
asked the P.M.G-. (who was present) to explain.
The P.M.G. said he was bound by the Postal
Union to send to Berne 750 stamps of each sort
issued, including errors, and that he found it was
necessary to print some to send them, and so
printed a few more. But why did he print more
when only 750 were required ? Because, said
the P.M.G., he thought a few more would not
huit. We then pointed out that if this sort of
thing was indulged in here, it would bring the
Government into disrepute for trying to make
revenue out of stamp collectors. Mr. Wittencom
then said : " Hid we suppose the Government
would submit any stamps that they wanted
printed (when necessary) to the Philatelic Society
of W. A., and ask their- consent ? We explained
that we did not want this, and, finally. Mr.
"Wittenoom said, if, as we had told him, there
was a sufficient stock of the green ^d., then he
would treat us in a fair and square w ay.
Although he was no collector himself he sym-
pathised with us, and, if this would suit us, he
would not allow the stamps to be issued. We
thanked the Minister tor havuig so patiently
heard us, and for having met us in so friendly a
spirit.

Booming New Issues.

The Philatelic Journal of Great Britain
has set itself the task of creating a Xew
Order of Collectors. With an irrcsistable
plausibility the Editor tells the " rank and
file" of collectors that they must face the
inevitable, and "put behind them, once
for all, the thought of collecting the gilt-
edged old, and take to collecting the xew. "
That there is ample field for the energies
of the most industrious he holds to be
attested by the fact that a friend of his
' ' has ten books each of some seventy pages
entirely filled with genuine new issues
since the year 1890, and even he has not
got them all." Again, recruits of the new
order are assured that even as an invest-
ment new issues march along at a very
satisfactory pace — a pace ' ' which no fever
and fizzle of politics can disturb or depress."
In proof of this certain recent issues are
listed which have advanced in price from
9s. to 60s., 20s. to 40s., Is. (id. to 10s., and
so on. And to settle the whole business
beyond all possible cavil Mr. Whitfield
King, of the firm of Messrs. Whitfield
King & Co., is quoted as a "high
authority " for the following statement in
bill-poster type : —

There is quite as much pleasm-e in buying the
new issues as they come out as there is in
the search for ol 1 stamps. I speak from ex-
perience, having heen engaged for some months

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

in forming a collection for myself, consisting of
issues from 1890 only. I have finished all
except Oceania, and I have derived more pleasure
from the task than I ever expected I should. I
am, moreover, convinced that it is a good
investment.

Messrs. S. C. Skip ton and W. Brown
have undertaken to pilot the ' ' Ninety Boys ' '
through the devious paths of new issues.
The first lesson appears in the January
number of the P. J. G. B. with the fol-
lowing introduction : —

A great deal has been written lately about the
colleciing of " Old Issues," the demand has been
great and consequently the value and cost of the
better stamps have risen enormously, in many
cases putting the rarer specimens quite out of
the reach of any but the more wealthy of col-
lectors. This difficulty in completing a collection,
even of one or a group of countries has no doubt
decided many to give up collecting. We think,
however, that a remedy is at hand, namely, to
collect " New Issues " ; and to give collectors a
guide, we have decided on publishing the follow-
ing list, giving al! the varieties that we have in
our own collection and that we hear of from
reliable sources. "We have taken the year 1^90
as a commencement, as in that year the Postage
Stamp celebrated its Jubilee.

There are many things to be said in favour of
the despised " New Issues." They are, as a rule,
pretty, and for the most part, cheap (at any rate,
soon after they are issued). On the other hand,
they have shown, and probably will show, quite
as much increase in value as time goes on as the
" Old Issues." There are plenty of minor
varieties to be looked for by the earnest collector,
and a number of errors, &c, to be found, to be
regarded with pride by the owner and envy by
his friends ; and, finally, the issues of 1890. and
even 1895, will in time be li Old Issues."

"We propose -publishing these lists as soon as
finished in book form, profusely illustrated, and
shall be glad to receive the names of all who
would like the book when published.

We intend to give the list of each year
separately, and would ask all our readers kindly
to examine their stamps by the aid of the list in
the Journal, and let us know at once any
varieties or additions, so that when published in
book form it may be as complete as possible. We
should esteem it a special favour if the stamps
were sent for inspection to our publishers, and
that permission were given for their illustra-
tion, if necessary.

Inverted Seychelles.
Mr. W. S. Manton, a collector, supplies
the following information to MekeeVs
Weekly Stamp News concerning the dis-
covery of inverted surcharges on the stamps
of Seychelles : —

In February, 1893, it became necessary to
surcharge certain values in order to meet press-
ing requirements on account of a change in
postal rates. The face values of this emission,
as is well known, were 8 cent on 4, 12 cent on

16, 15 cent on 16, 45 cent on 48, and 90 cent on
90. The work was d< ne at the Local Govern-
ment printing office by printers who had had no
previous experience in this branch, which,
perhaps, accounts for the very indifferent manner
in which all our overprints hare been effected.

Some time after the stamps had been sent
back to the Post Office and put in issue a sheet
of reversed 3 cent on 4 cent was accidentally dis-
covered by the postmaster — who had only lately
been appointed — when making a distribution to
the subordinate offices of his department. This
discovery led to a general search through the
other values, when a sheet of 15 cent on 10 was
found similarly reversed.

The postmaster being in doubt as to whether
these stamps should be issued for postage pur-
poses or withdrawn, they were put on one side
for the time being, but after a correspondence on
the subject it was decided that the mere fact of a.
surcharge being reversed did not alter the value
of the stamp in so far as the question of postage
was concerned, so long as it was defaced with the
same words or figure as the others, and that ac-
cordingly they might be sold as bona fide postage
stamps, but the printer was warned to be more-
careful in future.

During the interval a local collector got to
know the secret and secured the whole of the 240-
stamps the moment they were placed on sale,
eventually selling 200 to a French dealer in
Paris at 5 francs a-piece, generously distributing
the remainder, except one of each value, amongst
his friends who were collectors.

Number of each value issued: 120 of 3 cent
on 4 cent, reversed surcharge ; 120 of 15 cent on
16 cent, reversed surcharge.

N.S. -1894-5.
MekeeVs Weekly Stamp News gives the
dates when the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing began to print each value of
stamps, and when watermarked paper was
first used, as follows : —

Un watermarked. Watermarked, used,.

1c,

June

11,

1894.

May 20,

1895

2c,

June

25,

1894.

May 20,

1895

3c,

Aug.

10,

1894.

Oct. 31,

1S95

3c,

Aug,

23,

1894,

Julv 13,

1895

5c,

Sept.

1894.

July 10,

1895

6c,

July

1894,

Sept. 3,

1895

8c.

Feb.

18,

1895.

July 24,

1895

10c ,

Aug.

21,

1 894.

Julv 20,

1895

15c,

Oct.

1894.

Sept. 11.

1-895

50c,

Oct.

17,

1 894.

Nov. 9,

1-95

^1.00

Oct.

• 6,

1894.

Aug. 13,

1895

2.00,

Nov.

12,

1<94.

Aug. 14,

1H95

3.00,

Nov.

12,

1894.

Aug. 16,

1895

Special deliverv.

10c, Sept." 19, 1894.

Postage Due.

lc, Aug. 11, 1894.

2c, July 14, 1894.

3c, Oct. 22, 1894.

5c, Sept. 17, 1894.
10c, Sept. 14, 1894.
30c, O.t. 24, 1894.
50c, Oct, 24. 1894,

Aug. 17, 1895

Aug. 30, 1895
Sept. 16, 1895
Oct. 30, 1895
Oct. 15, 1895
Oct. 16, 1895

FORGERIES AND REPRINTS,

FORGERIES AND REPRINTS.

Prefatory.

As often as occasion may require, we
propose to devote a page or two to the
exposure and description of forgeries. The
more collectors and dealers are put on then-
guard against these insiduous foes the
better. A mere warning that dangerous
forgeries of such aud such stamps have
recently been put into circulation, is of
little use. Some distinguishing defects
must be given to help a collector to identify
an imposter. At the same time we do not
believe in pointing out all defects. That
would be educating and helping the forger.
As a rule one or two defects are ample to
safeguard the careful collector. When
necessary we will publish photographic
illustrations. Everything will be care-
fully indexed at the end of each volume, so
that our readers will have an invaluable
reference list of forgeries at their fingers'
ends, and be able to turn to it readily
whenever it may be needed. We shall, of
course, be glad of any help our readers can
render us in this matter, in sending us early
intimation of new frauds, with specimens
for illustration.

We shall also include in this page notices
of reprints. Some reprints are not so bad
as forgeries ; some are a great deal worse,
as they are more difficult of detection than
an absolute forgery, and are equally in-
tended to deceive. In too many cases the
raison d'etre of reprints is the hope that
they may pass muster as originals.

Swazieland.

The following forgeries are noted in an
article upon the stamps of this country in
the South African Philatelist, for Novem-
ber :

I have seen the 1885 3d. and 6d. Transvaal
6ur-charged " Swazieland " in black.

The first, of course, is purely bogus. The
type is slightly larger, the greatest difference
being that the initial letter " S," quite plain iu
the genuine, is of a fancy type in the forgery.
On examining the stamps closely under a magni-
fying glass, I find the surcharge to have been
printed over the postmark. The naked eye would
not easily discover this, only heavily postmarked
Transvaal stamps having been brought into
service.

The most outrageous of all the forgeries is the
2d. Swazieland. surcharged "4," in violet, in the
corner of the stamp on each numeral " 2," and
once in the centre. The stamp itself is genuine
in all repects, the provisional " 4 " being bogus.
The forger disposed of quite a quantity of these
to unwary philatelists.

In 1893 a Transvaal post card surcharged
"Swazieland" was announced to have been
issued, in Bremersdorp, by Se?if's Journal.

The information has been supplied to Senf by
the local Postmaster. It turued out, however, to
be a bogus card, not authorised by Government.

It now only remains for me to warn both
collectors and dealers against the Swazieland
stamps with full stop after the surcharge. I
have seen a large quantity of these on the ^,
Id.. 2d., and 10s. The surcharge, with the
exception of the full stop, is perfectly identical
with the original. I am not at the present
moment in a position to give further information
as regards these stamps, but, though I may not
yet designate them forgeries until I have made
further inquiries at headquarters (it being too
late to do so for this issue) I again warn readers
against purchasing Swazieland stamps with the
above-described surcharge.

British Bechuanaland.

The following forgeries are described by
the South African Philatelist for November :

Issue 1817. Surcharged on Cape of Good
Hope. Wmk., Cabled Anchor. Perf..

No. 1, Jd., black and grey. Double surcharge
inverted.

No. 2, Id., black and carmine. Double
surcharge.

In the forgeries "British" measures 9mm.,
and "Bechuanaland" 175mm,, while in the
genuine thev measure respectively 7fmm, and
lOfmm.

Prov. Issue 1891. Surcharged vertically on
Cape of Good Hope. Wmk., Anchor. Perf,

No, 3, Id., black and carmine.

No. 4, 2d., black and brown.

The forgeries differ from the genuine in the
following respects :

There is no full stop after the word " Bechuana-
land," and the words " British " and " Bechuana-
land " are half a millimeter longer. The
surcharges appear to have been printed by
hand press

No. 5, 4d., black and blue.

No, 6, (!d., black and violet,

No. 7, lsh., black and green.

Nos. 5, 6, and 7 are bogus, these values never
having been surcharged for use in British
Bechuanaland.

Natal First Issue.

The Stamj) Collectors' Fortnightly , which
has done great service in the prompt dis-
closure of forgeries, publishes a timely
warning against forgeries of the first issue
of Natal : —

We have received the following extract of a
private letter dated 11th November, 1895: — "A
lot of forged first issue are being introduced into
the market out here, the old date stamp, Pieter-
maritzburg, having been temporarily appropriated
for that purpose by persons unknown." Although
the above information is somewhat scanty, it will
serve to put our readers on their guard.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

Stamps that will not stand water.

According to a correspondent of the
Philatelic Era (U.S.), the new shade of the
eight cent. Canada must be added to those
stamps which will not stand being plunged
into water. After a few minutes immer-
sion, the paper, we are told, changes to a
pinkish tint, which remains after the stamp
has been dried. In this connection some-
one has suggested that a list should be
published of stamps that will not stand the
bath. Such a list would, no doubt, be a
very acceptable addition to the general
catalogue. Meanwhile we extract from
Major Evans's excellent work on " Stainps
and Stamp Collecting," the following
general list of stamps that will not stand
water : —

Afghanistan, current type

Belgium, some of the recent issues.

Bhor

Cashmere, the early issues, and the J anna,

brown on yellow.
Deccan, some of the official surcharges will

wash off.
Great Britain, current and recent issues. Most

of the values lose some of their colour by

washing.
Russia, many of the earlier stamps.
Soruth, the first stamp,
Tasmania, several values of the current stamps

have been printed in fugitive inks, but they

are not very soluble in water.

Collecting Plate Numbers.

A writer in MeheeVs Weekly sneers at the
collection of marginal plate uumbers, and
attributes the recent activity in this
direction in the United States to the
initiative of an enterprising dealer. This
dealer, we are told, in looking about for
new varieties of U.S. to double the price
and work off his stock, hits upon plate
numbers, He buys up a lot at the P.O.
value. He writes and causes to be cir-
culated in the philatelic press, articles on
plate numbers ; he advertisers to buy
certain numbers that are rare, &c, and so
a new branch is developed in philately.
This version of the origin of even U.S.
plate number collecting scarcely accords
with the fact that the " enterprising
dealer" was able to draw upon already-
formed large collections of plate numbers
for his information. As a matter of fact
it is by no means a new fad. It would be
much more correct to speak of it as the
popularising of a long-recognised branch
of specialising. Many specialists have

quietly worked at it for years. Indeed, we
question whether any leading specialist in
this country ignores it. Its importance
has been interestingly emphasised by the
recent discovery of retouches in De la Eue
stamps, in the study of which plate
numbers are all important.

A Philatelic Badge.

Some of our friends across the water are
agitating the old question of a philatelic
badge. The latest suggestion is that it
should be worn blue ribbon fashion on the
lapel of the coat. For little boys that may
' ' take on, ' ' as they phrase it. Still, though
the aged may be inclined to laugh at the
idea as a silly one, it is hard to get away
from the wish that there could be some
means of ascertaining by a freemasonary
wink, or postage stamp sleeve links or
breast pin, or " seebecked " shirt front,
that a fellow passenger suffers from a like
affliction. Such a discovery might often
transform a tedious railway journey into
the pleasantest of pleasant trips.

How to examine Paper.

In some cases it is extremely difficult to
decide whether a stamp is on wove or on
laid paper. As a rough and ready means
to that end, the following plan for ascer-
taining the make of paper on which a stamp
is printed will be found most serviceable.
It is taken from an excellent paper by
Mr. Krauth on mechanical aids to stamp
collecting.

It is simply a little box open at one side, and
having within an adjustable hinged mirror.
Above it 1 have an arrangement for holding a
small ordinary lens. The box has a glass top,
and under it a piece of cardboard with an opening
adapted to the size of stamp which we wish to
examine. The stamp is laid on top of the glass,
and the mirror is adjusted with the fingers. The
open side of the box is turned toward the source
of light, either artificial or natural, the mirror is
adjusted until the entire light is reflected upward
through the stamp. This is then shielded with
the head or, better still, with a little piece of
paper, half a cardboard box, or anything which
will not interfere with the light coining in below
and falling upon the mirror, but will cut off
extraneous light at the top. This illuminates
the stamp very brilliantly, all the rays of light
passing through the paper. You can determine
then with the greatest accuracy by means of your
magnifier whether the paper is laid or wove, and
what is the nature of it.

The apparatus is easily made ; any druggist's
dovetailed box will do. This part for holding
the lens, while I have made it of metal, can be

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

just as well made of wood. To a person that
has never tried that method of examining stamps
by reflected light through the paper, it will be
quite a revelation to see what it shows.

The Suburban Stamp Exchange Club.

The Secretary informs us that three
packets were despatched on the 27th of
December. Two of these packets were
composed exclusively of sheets valued at
not less than £0 each, with an aggregate
value of not less than £1000. There were
also some fine specimens of old AVest
Indians and Australians at reasonable
pricings. Seven applications for member-
ship were received during the past month,
of which five were accepted.

Hon. Secretary ; H. A Slade, Tudor House. St. Alban's.

Imperial British East Africa Company
Remainders.

The stock of remainders of the Imperial
British East Africa Company, in hand at
the London Office of the Company, have
been sold to a London merchant, who pur-
chased them for a good round sum as a
speculation. The amount paid is said to
run into several thousand pounds. There
are said to be very few of the 2^- annas.
We understand that the plates have been
destroyed, so that there can be no reprint-
ing of these stamrjs.

Responsibility of Experts.
Is an expert responsible for damages for
giving an Incorrect opinion ? Such is the
alarming question which a correspondent
puts to a French contemporary. The
editor, in reply, says an expert is not
responsible unless he has been guilty of
culpable negligence, or unless a wrong
opinion has been intentionally given — in
other words, the expert is responsible for
damages which may result from a wrong
judgment if he has not taken the ordinary
means to convince himself of the correct-
ness of his opinion. This is a serious, not
to say alarming, matter. The very thought
that we may be within measurable distance
of seeing Major Evans and Messrs. Castle
and Bacon marched off to Hollo way makes
one shiver with apprehension. Perhaps it
would be well for all experts to safeguard
their liberty by prefacing their opinions in
future with the pious legal formula ' ' to
the best of my knowledge and belief."

tion. All the same his sto3k was confis-
cated, and he had to pay a fine of sixteen
francs.

A Forger's Defence.

A person in Paris charged with forging

the current stamps of foreign countries

ingeniously and coolly urged in defence

that he did not sell them without oblitera-

Telegraph Stamps.

Out of all the countries which issue
postage stamps only forty-four have yet
issued separate labels for telegraph pur-
poses. The tendency is, except in stamp-
speculating countries, to make ordinary
stamps serve the purposes of both postage
and telegraph.

Mr. Hughes Hughes' Collection Sold.

Messrs. Stanley Gibbons, Limited, have
purchased Mr. Hughes Hughes' collection.
Tne price paid is said to have been about
£2200. The collection, which is a general
one, is mostly unused, and contains the only
known unused copy of the Cape of Good
Hope 4d. red error, wood block. We shall
be curious to know at what price this great
rarity changes hands. It should beat even
the record of the Post Office Mauritius.
Indeed we hear that an offer of £400 has
already been refused. The price put upon
it is said to be £-500. If we are patient we
shall yet reach the four figure price for a
single stamp. P.S. — On going to press we
hear that the stamp has been sold frr £500.

Dominican Republic Postal Dragoons.

In the Dominican Republic letters are
forwarded by horsemen, so called dragoons.
Their appointment does not rest with the
postal authorities, but is settled by the
i village communities. Sometimes the service
I comes to a standstill for want of dragoons.
The Minister of Posts and Telegraphs has
been endeavouring to alter this for some
time, and the authorities have now decided
, that in each district there shall be a corps
j of horsemen for the purpose of carrying on
the postal business. Out of each corps men
i are to be selected iu turns, or as occasion
i requires. In this way it will be possible to
I have a post once a day in each district
instead of only two or three times a week.
This republic is one of the few states in
which postage stamps are not sold at the
post office. They are distributed by the
National Bank, and by agencies in the out-
lying districts. The public continually
complain about this as the bank agents do
not keep a sufficient supply.

Curious Trial in Paris.
Ten persons were recently charged in
Paris with having made and sold forgeries
of foreign stamps. Before the conclusion
of the case, however, the Public Prosecutor
stated that the postal authorities had in -
formed him that the State had not suffered

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

through the forgeries made by the accused
as they were foreign stamps, and the prose-
cution would, therefore, be withdrawn. If
the protection of the Public Prosecutor
extends only to the State Departments,
what becomes of the community in France ?

The Hard Time Coming for Forgers.

It is said that the members ox the Postal
Union are arranging to make a law regard-
ing the forging of postage stamps more
stringent than it is at present in all the
countries within the Union. Where there
is no law at present, as in Austria-Hungary,
Spain, Siam, and Victoria, it is intended to
introduce the necessary measures. The
next meeting of the Postal JJnion Congress
will certainly be an important one from the
philatelic point of view. If it only puts an
end to the Jubilee nuisance it will have
done much to safeguard the interests of
our hobby.

Kashmir Remainders.

The Kashmir postal arrangements having
been handed over to the British Government,
the remainders of the native stamps have
been put up to tender. In all, there are
39,000 (seven values) of so-called " private
stamps," and 34,000 (six values) service
stamps, and 3000 post cards. Tenders will
be received up to the 29th of February,
1896, by C. R. Kiernander, Accountant-
General, Kashmir State.

The Tapling Collection.

Mr. E. D. Bacon informs us that he has
changed the exhibits of the Tapling Col-
lection at the British Museum for the
following countries, which are now on
view : — Mauritius, Lagos, St. Helena,
Labnau, British North Borneo, and the
Fiji Islands. In Mauritius the Tapling
Collection is very strong. Both the great
" Post Office" rarities are represented, the
' ' twopence " by an unused specimen and
the "one penny" by a used copy. The
native printed stamps altogether are a very
fine lot.

Minor Varieties of English.

Stamp Collectors Fortnightly promises a
series of articles ' ' dealing with many
uncatalogued varieties" of English stamps.
The series will be illustrated, and will be
issued in the form of four-page octavo
supplements, so that when completed the
various sheets can be easily detached from
the paper and bound up separately, form-
ing a volume of the same size and style as
the publishers' ' ' Catalogue of English
Adhesives."

A Question of Gum.
Mr. J. M. Andreini in a paper on U.S.
plate numbers 1894-5, recently read before
the New York Philatelic Society, and
which is published in the January No. of
the Metropolitan Philatelist, gave some inter-
esting particulars concerning the shades of
the various plates as well as hints as to
what are rare. As to the gum used by
Uncle Sam when he took to printing his
own stamps Mr. Andreini says : —

We have all protested about the early gum on
pink *2c., and its unsatisfactory adhesive qualities,
and we all know that the P.O. Authorities were
obliged to issue an order to forward all letters
which bore no stamps, but showed marks of an
unsuccessful attempt to affix them, as though
they were actually prepaid letters.

Count Primoli's Collection.

The Stamp Collectors' Fornighly says,
Comte Primoli, whose superb collection
has been secured by M. Victor Robert for
the sum of 150,000 francs, is a Frenchman
of high degree — a nephew in fact of the
Princess Mathilde. The collection was
formed by the father of Comte Primoli,
and it is remarkable from the fact that
every stamp it contains is unused. It
includes some rare Moldavians, the scarce
Reunion twins, and a fine copy of the 3
lire of Tuscany.

Miscellaneous.

The Scott Stamp and Coin Company
announce that they sold 25,000 copies of
the fifty-fifth (1894) edition of their cata-
logue, and that they have printed 30,000
of their fifty-sixth (1896) edition.

U.S. periodical stamps, being unobtain-
able in the country of their origin, have to
be imported from Europe for American
collections.

It is said that the colour of the U.S. 2c.
is to be changed.

A recent issue of the U.S. Postal Guide,
warns postmasters against selling periodi-
cal or due stamps to the public.

The latest "corner" in U.S. stamps is
said to be an attempt to run up the price
of 50c. Columbians.

The "File" family of the P.J.G. B. has
betaken itself to Florence for a few weeks'
holiday.

Herr Yon Neulinger is busy with a
sequel to his stamps of Turkey, a transla-
tion of which will appear in due course in
the P.J.G. B.

Mr. Hadlow has been elected counterfeit
detector to the International Philatelic
Union.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Albums and Speculative Issues.

Sir, — -MekeeVs Weekly Stamp News is not
quite easy in its editorial mind about the
operations of the S. S. S. S. Seebecks
still cumber the philatelic earth. Even
the deservedly commended action of the
Scott Stamp and Coin Co., in excluding all
condemned stamps from its new albums is
not quite the thing. Says the Editor : —

We believe in discouraging the collection of
new stamps made for stamp collectors. In this
way only will such things be stopped ; but it is
just as important to discourage the collection of
past issues that were made for the same purpose,
for in this way only will the parasite who lives
on the collector be made to suffer. It is foolish
and inconsistent to eliminate the issues recently
tabooed by the S. S. S. S. for Portugal, South
African Republic, Greece, &c, from an album or
catalogue, and include in the same book the
Seebeckized issues of Dominician Republic
(1879-80), Bolivar (1879-85), Escudor (1892 to
date), Honduras (1889 to date), Nicaragua (1890
to date), Salvador (1889 to date).

But human nature is human nature,
even in St. Louis. For instance, I note
that the Mekeels in the self same number
of their publication advertise full sets of
Seebecks and Chinese locals.

What about these ' ' leetle inconsist-
encies ? "

However, I won't look a gift horse in
the mouth. I will presume that the
Mekeels intend to bring out an album
which shall really draw a hard and fast
line at all rubbish, past and present. If
they want to take a rise out of their com-
petitors let them produce such an album.
I question very much whether they dare
go to such a length to show that they have
the courage of their convictions. — Yours,
Ax Old Grille.

Society Auctions.

Sir, — Every time I read the report of
auctions held at meetings of American
philatelic societies I ask myself the ques-
tion, Why don't we have something of the
same sort in our English societies ? I see
no objection to the business, though I am
in a difficulty to know how it could be
managed without a licensed auctioneer.
Presumably to attempt to auction stamps,
or anything else, in the ordinany way
without holding an auctioneer's licence
would be getting within the meshes of the
law. The Dutch auction method of start-
ing at a top price . and coming down is
generally understood to be allowable, but
I doubt if that plan would serve the pur-
pose of a stamp sale.

Perhaps it is the legal difficulty that
bars the way to the introduction of the

American practice of auction sales at our
society meetings. Here in the provinces,
where we have no chance of attending
regular stamp auctions, I feel certain the
innovation could not fail to be very
popular.

Will some ' ' legal ' ' collector enlighten
us as to the penalties and possibilities of
this matter ?

Personally I should prefer some such
medium for the disposal of my duplicates
to the risks, delays, and disappointments
of exchange clubs. Besides, one could see
in this way a much commoner class of
duplicates than auctioneers care to waste
their time in cataloguing and selling,
except in "giving away" lots.— Yours
truly, Duplicate.

How to deal with Seebecks.

Sir, — To my mind one of the most pressing
questions in philatelic circles just now is — ■
How to deal with Seebecks ? They are
admittedly the worst of all the Speculative
Issues, and yet they are not vetoed by the
S.S.S.S. And I am not sure that the good
work done by the S.S.S.S. in other direc-
tions is not neutralised by the Society's
pointed silence in regard to Seebecks.
Before the establishment of the Society
collectors began to shun Seebecks, but
they are now puzzled to find that a Society
that was established to warn collectors
against rubbish is absolutely silent about
Seebecks, and in this case, silence amounts
almost, if not altogether, to consent.
Therefore the S.S.S.S. is actually strength-
ening the position of Seebecks.

I do not say that the S.S.S.S. can
rationally condemn stamps which are put
into genuine circulation, but I do think
that such a strong committee of practical
men ought to be able to devise some
means for dealing with the Seebeck flood.
Its condemnation should be placed on the
stamps in some way. I confess I cannot
suggest a way out of the difficulty ; never-
theless, it is certain that some way should
be found ; and it is also equally certain
that the position of the S.S.S.S is consi-
derably weakened by its failure to warn
collectors against these worst of annual
weeds. There may be much unreasonable-
ness in the sneer that the Society has not
the courage to place Seebecks on its list, bnt
all the same the sneer is a telling one iu
the minds of thousands of collectors who
do not trouble to consider the difficulties of
the position. Axti-Seebeck.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

SOCIETIES IN SESSION.

Johannesburg.

After a brief existence of eighteen
months, this society has been allowed to
collapse. A liquidator has been appointed
to realize and distribute the assets. The
South African Philatelist attributes the
collapse to ' ' Want of energy by the
committee, and a waning interest by the
members. We are somewhat surprised at
the collapse, as indications in other direc-
tions in the Transvaal point to a decided
increase of interest in matters philatelic.
Perhaps a new and more staple society may
be raised on the ashes of the old. There is
plenty of good work remaining to be done
in the solving of problems relating to
Transvaal issues alone.

Plymouth.
Mr. Tyeth Stevens, the Vice President
seems to be the working member of the
Plymouth Society. He has large stores of
valuable information, which his society
never seems to tire of utilizing. He has
recently been through the West Indian
Colonies, scattering tips right and left
what to secure, and what to avoid, and
how to collect. He occupied the evenings
of December 4th and 18th with Antigua,
Bahamas, and Barbados. On the 8th Jan.
Mr. A. E. L. Westaway read a paper on
U.S. 1872 issues, in which he explained in
detail the differences in the several printings
of the lc. and 2c.

See ■. Mr. W. J W. Miller, 5, Athenaeum Terrace, Plymouth.

Birmingham.

On December 19th Mr. W. Pymni read
a paper on St. Vincent, which was illus-
trated by a fine display, including his own
collection and those of Messrs. G. F.
Jackson, B. Hollick, and G. Johnson,
together with selections from other mem-
bers. Almost every variety of watermark
and perforations was shewn in unused and
used condition, in singles, pairs, and
blocks. The 4d. on Is. was shewn in
both types used and unused. All recent
values and provisionals, from ^d. to os.
inclusive, were shown in complete sheets.
It was noted that the only stamp required
to complete the exhibit was a used copy of
the os. star wmk. Several unused copies
were shewn, but no one showed it used.

The following is the programme for the
remainder of the present session : —

Feb. 6. Debate— Reprints, for and against

Feb. 20. Display of Novelties and New Issues.

Mar. 5. Display— Tasmania.

Mar. 19. Paper— Argentine. Mr. G. Johnson.

Apr. 2 Paper— Hamburg. Mr. F. J. Lord.

Apr. 16. Paper Mr. E. Holiick.

May 7. Paper— Greece. Mr. P. T. Deakin.

May 21. Philatelic Display. Mr. W. P>. Avery.

Sec. : Mr. G. Johnson, 208, Birchfteld Road, Birmingham.

Brighton.

The following is the programme for the
remainder of the present session : —

Feb. 3. The Stamps of Tuscany. Mr. M P. Castle.

„ 17. Postmarked Adhesives of Great Britain.

Mr. C. F. D Marshall.

Mar. 3. General Display. Mr. H. Stafford- Smith.

„ 17. Stamps of Switzerland.

Mr. Otto Pfenniger.
Apr. 7. Stamps of Norway. Mr. J. W. Gillespie.

,, 21. Stamps of Bahamas. Mr. A. de Worms*
May 5. The Stamps ( f Parma. Mr. M. P. Castle.

„ 19. Annual Dinner.

Sec : Mr. W, G. Willet, West House. Brighton.

Manchester.

The following is the programme for the
remainder of the present session : —

Feb. 7. Exhibition and Discussion — "Bavaria."
„ 14. "Greece," Part 1. W. D. Beckton.
„ 21. Discussion— " Philatelic Literature."
., 28. " Greece," Part II. W. D. Beckton.

Mar. 6. Exhibition and Discussion— "Italian
States."
„ 13. "Egypt." J.H.Abbott.

,, 20. Exhibition — " Errors and Curiosities."
„ 27. W. W. Munn.

Apr. 1. Exhibition and Discussion — " ]STova
Scotia and Newfoundland,"
„ 10. " Lantern Exhibition." J.H.Abbott
,. 17. Exhibition and Discussion — "Denmark

and Iceland."
,, 24. "Cyprus." J. C. North.

S»c. ; Mr. W. W. Munn, Ashfleld, Peel Causeway, Altruncham

London, City Club.
The City of London Philatelic Club,
which now meets on Mondays at Keenan's
Hotel, Crown Court, Cheapside, E.C., has
recently instituted Auction Sales at its
meetings. One held on Jan. 13th is said
to have been very successful. Another
will be held on Feb 10th.

Sec ; Mr. C. Forbe?, 42, Strahan Road, Bow, London

AUCTION SALES.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER, Jan. 14, 1896.

VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER, Jan. 2, 1896.

£ s. d,
Barbados, 6d. vermilion, iniperf, block

of 4* 3 15 0

British Columbia, 10c. blue aud pink,

perf. 12i* 2 12 6

British Guiana (1851), lc. majeata... 4 0 0

Canada, 6d. purple-black, perf.* ... 12 10 0

7 id. green* £12 and 12 12 0

another, used 2 7 6

lOd. blue 6 0 0

Ceylon, 6d. on bluish, imperf. pair*... 2 2 0

8 1. brown, star, perf., 2 copies, each 3 0 0
9d. brown, ditto, ditto, block of 4* 2 17 6

Mauritius, Britannia, magenta, block

of 4* 2 17 6

Naples, 50gr. lake 2 4 0

Nevis, 4d. rose* 3 10 0

Is green, perf. 13, fine, but no gum* 4 10 0

Is. purple* 2 15 0

New Brunswick, 6d. yellow 2 15 0

Newfoundland, 2d. carmine 6 6 0

4d. orange 3 10 0

(I^d. carmine red, cut close 7 5 0

New Zealand, Id. red on blue, pair ... 4 0 0
2d. ultramarine, thick paper.'serrated,

on original, fine, but torn ... 5 10 0

Nova Scotia, Is. cold violet ... ... 17 0 0

Oldenburg, 2nd is Hie |gr. green* ... 6 7 6

St. Lucia, Is. black and orange ... 3 4 0

St. Vincent, Id. rose-red, imperf. pair* 13 10 0

4d. deep blue, no wmk., block of 4* 3 0 0

Is. indigo, perf. 12. block of 4* ... 10 10 0

ditto, perf. 11, strip of 3, with

margins* 11 0 0

Saxony, 3 perf. red 3 0 0

Tobago, 6d. ochre, C.A 10 0 0

Victoria, Id green, Queen on throne,

block of 9* 5

Western Australia, Od. bronze-black 2

Wurtemberg, 3k. orange, no thread* 4 10 0

3k. orange, thick paper, perf. 13^* 2 4 0

7k. dull blue, roulette* 2 2 0

0 0
0 0

British Columbia, 10c, imperf* ...2 0 0

British Honduras, Is. carmine, C.A. 7 10 0

Brazil, slanting figures, 600r. ... 5 0 0

Buenos Ayres. 3p 2 0 0

ditto, 4p., damaged 3 15 0

ditto, 5p 5 0 0

Ceylon, 1st issue, lOd. vermilion* ... 2 10 0

ditto, 4d. rose 15 15 0

ditto, 9d, brown 3 0 0

ditto, 2s. blue 7 0 0

8(1. yellow -brown* 10 0 0

9d. brown* 4 0 0

Cape of Good Hope, Id. red, wood

block 3 3 0

ditto, Is. dark green ... ... 2 5 0

Canada, 7Jd. green* 2 4 0

ditto, another, used ... ... ... 3 0 0

Great Britain, lOd. Oct, plate, 3* ... 2 0 0

Hanover. 10gr. 2 10 0

Mauritius, large fillet, 2d. blue ... 8

Mexico, eagle, 3c. brown, with sur. ... 2

Monaco, 1st issue, 5fr.* 2

Naples, I tornase, blue " cross " ... 4

ditto, 50 grana .. 2

Natal, Is. green, curved carmine sur. 14

ditto, Is. green, curved black sur.... 3

New Brunswick, 6d. yellow 3

Nevis, 4d. rose 2

ditto, 4d. orange, perf. 14* ... 2

ditto, Is. purple* ... 2

New South Wales, Svdney view, Id.,

plate I. ... ' 2

Nova Scotia, Is. cold violet 18

Oldenburg, 2nd issue, ^gr.* 3

ditto, 3rd issue, ^gr. moss green* ... 3

ditto, ^gr. green 3

Peru, medio peso rose ... ... 12

Queensland, 1st issue. Id. carmine,

imperf ... ... ... ... 2

St. Christopher, 6d. olive-brown, pair 7

ditto, same (single)* ... ... 2

St. Vincent, 4d. on Is. 9

South Australia, l>t issue, Id. yellow-
green, imperf- ... .. ... 2

Spain (1850), lOrls. green 2

ditto (1852), 2rls. red 10

ditto (1853), 2rls. red 6

Switzerland (Basle), 2£r.* £3 10s and 3

Tuscany, 60 crazie, damaged... ... 2

ditto (1860), 3 lire 40

United States (185(5), 90c. blue ... 4

ditto, 93c, Justice ... ... ... 5

Virgin Islands, Is., single line border* 4

Wurtemburg, 18kr. blue, no thread* 3

ditto (1859), 3kr. orange, thick paper 2

ditto, ditto, 6kr. green* ... ... 5

Zululand, 5s. ... ... 3

0 0

15 0

0 0

12 6

0 0

10 0

5 0

3 0

15 0

2 0

7 6

10 0

0 0

15 0

0 0

7 0

7 0
10 0

2 0

10 0

0 0

17 (i

8 ()
0 0

15 0

0 0

17 6

CHEVELEY & CO., Jan. 8 and 9, 1896.

Antigua, Is. purple, strip of 6* ... 5
Antioquia, 1st issue, 2jd. blue,penmark 10

7
3
g

•2
2
3

ditto, 1 peso, red, postmark
Baden, 3k. rose, perf. 13^* ...
Bahamas, Id. lake, imperf, block of 4'

Bavaria, 1 mark, imperf*

British Honduras, 6d. yellow*

Is. grey*

50c on Is. grey* ...
Canada, 7^d. green, on entire ... 3 15

Ceylon, 2d emerald, C.C.* 2 10

5d. purple-brown, cut at top* ... 2 6
6d. claret, imperf* ... ... ... 2 2

8d. brown, star, perf. ... ... 3 15

Is. 9d. green, imperf.* ... ... 3 0

2s. blue, imperf., fine, but line cut

one side* 6 5 0

Dominician Republic (1865), £r.

green* ... ...4 7 0

ditto, lr yellow, cut close ... ... 7 5 0

Gambia, Is. green* 2 6 0

Great Britain, Id. red, small crown,

perf. 14, block of 12* 10 10 0

Lli. Official, £1 green 2 15 0

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Hamburg, 9sch, yellow, perf.

Hong Kong, 96c. yellow-brown* ...

Lagos, 2s. 6d. brown*

Naples, \\. blue, arms

^t. dark blue, cross ...
Nevis, 4d rose*

another, used

4d. orange, engraved*

another* ...

4d. orange, litho.*

6d, grey-lilac, £2 8s., £2 10s., and

6d, olive, litho

another

6d. green

Is. green, perf, 13* ...

Is, yellow-green ...

Is. purple, strip of 6*

a single* ... ...

Nova Scotia, 6d. dark green*
Oldenburg, 2nd issue, l/3rdgr. green*

ditto, 2gr, rose*

ditto, 3gr, yellow*

St. Christopher, 6d. olive-brown* ...

Is. lilac, strip of 5*

St. Lucia (1886), 6d, lilac*

ditto, Is. orange*
St. Vincent, 4d. orange, no wmk.* ...

another, no gum*

2 0

7 0

3 12

14 0

4 4

3 10

2 12

3 3

2 12

9 0

2 12

13 0

12 0

8 10

3 10

4 4

13 0

2 8

10 0

6 5

4 10

4 15

2 12

5 15

3 12

6 0

3 3

2 14

4d. dark blue, star* 6 10 0

4d. ultramarine, CA.. perf. 12* ... 3 10 0

6d. blue-green* 2 10 0

6d. pale-green* 2 14 0

6d. yellow-green, thick paper* ... 3 8 0

Is. slate, perf. 15* 2 0 0

Is. blue-black* 4 10 0

Is. vermilion, star* 2 10 0

5s. rose, star* 15 0 0

Tobago, 6d. ochre, CC, imperf.* ...2 2 0

6d. ochre, CC* 4 4 0

6d. ochre, CA., heavy postmark ... 11 10 0

Trinidad (1862), Is. purple-blue ... 7 10 0

United States (1869), 90c 2 2 0

Virgin Islands, 6d. rose, perf. 15* ... 6 10 0

Zululand, 5s* 3 0 0

Bremen, 7gr, yellow

France, 1st issue, 20c, blue, error, on
original ... ...

PUTTICK & SIMPSON, Jan. 6 and 7, 1896.

2 4 0

3 12 6

HAD LOW, Jan. 13, 1896.

Afghanistan, \ rupee black, tablet ... 5 15 0
Canada, 6d. purple-black, perf., cut

one side* ... 3 0 0

Mexico (1872), 100c. green (error) ... 5 5 0

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Editorial Communications.

Articles of special interest will be paid for. M.S.
dealing with particular points in an exhaustive
manner will be most welcome. As we wish to
arrange matter in advance, we shall be glad to hear
from Specialists who are open to write up their
special countries.

We shall be glad of the earliest information of
New Issues from our correspondents and readers,
with, when possible, a specimen for illustration.

All communications on Editorial matters should
be addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J.
Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Letters
enclosing valuables should be registered.

Exchanges.

We shall be glad to exchange two copies with
each of our leading contemporaries ; one copy

should be posted to our publishers and the other
to the Editorial address as above.

Subscriptions.

The Philatelic Record and Stamp News
will be sent post free to any subscriber at home or
abroad, on receipt of 3s. Subscribers' remittances
should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs. Buhl &
Co., Limited, ii, Queen Victoiia Street, London,
England.

Replies to Queries.

G. M. (Kington).— The Ceylon (1887) ir. 12c,
perf. 14, CC, you will find duly chronicled in the
London Philatelic Society's work on India and
Ceylon, on page 78, and the Provisional ir. 12c. on
2r. 50c, CC, perf. 12J by 14, in the same work
on page 77.

Our Advertisement Rates.— Price per Insertion, net.

Single.

3 months.

6 months.

12 months.

Whole Page

Half Page

£3 0 0
1 14 0
120

^ 16 0
1 10 0
100

£z 12 6

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£2 4 0
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Small Advertisements — 5/- per inch, in double column, prepaid.
Accounts for a series payable quarterly. Single insertion payable in advance.
Letters, Enquiries, and Remittances connected with the Advertisement pages should be addressed to

Mr. E. J. Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Advertisements must be received not later than the

15th of the month for publication in the next issue.

CHARLES JONES. PRINTER. LONDON

THE

PHILATELIC RECORD

and Stamp News.

FEBRUARY. 1896.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

(ROM the many kind letters of congratulation that we have received
from all parts of the country, we gather that the changes we have
made in the Philatelic Record commend themselves very agreeably
to our readers. Several express the hope that we may be able to
maintain the high standard that we have set up. It is true we
have mapped out a very comprehensive programme. It is true also that it may
take us a month or two to perfect our arrangements for the smooth working of our
plans. We are conscious of slips in our first number, of the paucity of our new
issues chronicle, and of the delay which attended its issue. In these matters we
shall soon get ship-shape. After this number we shall no doubt appear with
respectable punctuality, and with the help of our kind friends, especially those in
the colonies and in foreign countries, our chronicle will not be lacking in those new
issues that are worth chronicling. And here we may observe that we do not intend
to waste our space in illustrating or chronicling ephemeral rubbish obviously
intended for speculative purposes only. We shall, therefore, not even pretend to
chronicle everything. Those who think that the alpha and omega of a philatelic
journal is the length to which its new issue pages can be strained by including
everything in the image of a postage stamp will have to look elsewhere than in our
pages for their ideal. But apart from this economy of space we shall do our level
best to make our chronicle as interesting and complete as possible.

We want, and we intend to have, a thumping big circulation, and nothing that
we can accomplish in the direction of the attainment of that object shall be lacking
on our part. We, therefore, appeal confidently to stamp collectors everywhere to
help us in popularising the old Record by widening and increasing the circle of its
adherents. It must be obvious to any one that such a journal as this new series of
the Record represents cannot possibly be produced except at very heavy loss, unless
it can secure an exceptionally large circulation.

That exceptionally large circulation we are sanguine enough to believe may be
won for the Record with its new programme.

Our

Sorrowing
Friends.

Some of our good friends have taken to putting on their " weepers "
for us. To us it seems rather early in the day, but, all the same, they
mourn for us, and great tears of apparent sorrow trickle down their
dear, long-drawn faces with a sincerity so obvious that we feel more than half-
inclined to join with them in their general lamentation over our own decease. They

34 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

tell us that the good old Record is dead, and they carry us back, with reminiscent
sadness, to the days of yore when they steered the good old ship from port to port.

But we hasten to assure the dear souls that they have only buried an empty
coffin deep down in their loving hearts. The old friend that should have been
enshrined therein is still very much alive, and we hope to keep it so for many a long
day. We are not weighed down with any anxiety that the readers of the Record
will be persuaded to put on their "weepers" and part company from us because we
have, at a considerable increase of expenditure of time and money, more than
doubled the amount of matter, and at one and the same time reduced the sub-
scription rate from five shillings to three shillings. These changes do not seem to
us to justify any lamentation on the part of our readers. The last volume of the
old Record was numbered XVII, and the first volume of the new Record will be
numbered XVIII. We have added " the Stamp News" as a sub-title because that
journal has been amalgamated with the Record, and it is just possible that, in the
sweet by and bye, we may amalgamate even more distant relatives, and yet live on and
prosper.

The Is it wise ? Is it kind ? Is it even politic, on the part of the boomers

Booming of of New Issues to sling mud at such old friends as the Old Issues ?
New issues. Mr Whitfield King in a recent advertisement says, " we do not con-
sider it a safe investment to pay the unnaturally inflated prices now being asked for
many of the rarer old issues ; and we anticipate a re-action and a fall in prices
before very long." Alas ! our Ipswich friend has joined the Cassandras. And if
these prophets of evil omen, of coming disaster, of a slump in prices of Old issues,
were endowed with the abnormal foresight they are so ready to assume, stamp col-
lecting would, years and years ago, have been a thing of the past. No hobby has
been so liberally supplied with prophets of evil. They started in the business, we
verily believe, with the first recognised attempt at a collection of postage stamps,
and they are still as lively and as persistent as ever, and quite as sanguine that they
are on the right track. They jeered in the auction room at the prices paid for old
issues in the first sale held in London nearly a quarter of a century ago, when a
Brattlebro was bought in at £$, a 1869 U. S. 15c. with inverted centre was sold
for 36s., and the Athens (U.S.) would not sell for 30s., nor the St. Louis 5c. for
£2. 13s., the ioc. for -£2. 7s., and the 20c. for £6. These were scouted as
exorbitant and fictitious prices. But who would not drop even New Issues to get
them now at those prices. Whether the prices of some old issues are unnaturally
inflated, or not, time only will show. The prices we have quoted were in 1872
ridiculed as "fictitious," " inflated," and " exorbitant," by even such an authority
as Pemberton. The same adjectives are in use to-day, and yet despite all the
denunciation, and all the terrible warnings, the prices of the old rarities keep
bounding upwards and getting further and further out of reach. The reaction has
been anticipated time out of mind, but it has not come. Mr. Whitfield King is a
devotee to the New Issue movement. It is the axe that he has been grinding for
many years, and no one will blame him for putting a bit of extra polish on it now.

We do not wish in any way to throw cold water on the movement in favour of
the collection of new issues. It is, from many points of view, to be much com-
mended to a very large class of collectors, but we very seriously doubt the wisdom
of attempting to win adherents for the new movement by undermining the con-
fidence of collectors in the older issues.

To the making of Catalogues there seems to be no end. The fashion

Making °f tne day is in the direction of much in little space — small albums and

of small catalogues. The album that required a powerful crane to lift it

ogues. .g known onjy tQ a few phii^e]^ hermits, and the ponderous catalogue

is now equally out of fashion. In its place we have the popular pocket size, with

its miniature type and its miniature illustrations. But we are not concerned just at

present so much with the size and style of our latest catalogues as with the very

EDITORIAL NOTES. 35

interesting question how they deal with the delicate question of the stamps that
have been condemned by the Society for the Suppression of Speculative Stamps. On
the whole they are eminently satisfactory. Scott's and the A. B. C. are the only cata-
logues that have had an opportunity of declaring their policy, for the last editions of
Gibbons, Seuf & Moens were all published before the S. S. S. S. had fairly got to work.

Scott's Catalogue, as promised, excludes all the condemned stamps with one
exception. It breaks away from the Society on the Transvaal commemorative
stamp, which it illustrates and includes as a collectable stamp. As a purely specu-
lative issue it is probably the worst of all the stamps that have been condemned by
the Society. Its inclusion in the Scott's Catalogue, in the opinion of the best
authorities on this side, seriously mars the fact that the Scott Stamp and Coin Co.
were the first to announce that they would loyally set their ban on the stamps con-
demned by the society. The Scott Catalogue gives at the end of the regular issues
a very useful list of the stamps which have been condemned.

The A. B. C. Catalogue is loyal to the backbone in its exclusion of every stamp
that has been condemned, and it backs up its loyalty with the following announce-
ment in its preface : " We are glad to express our full sympathy with the objects
which the Society for the Suppression of Speculative Stamps have in view. We have
eliminated from this catalogue all issues which have been condemned by this Society
as speculative or unnecessary, and we do not sell them. We wish we could also
exclude from the catalogue the ' Seebeck ' labels, but they do a large postal duty,
and we cannot see how they can be legitimately excluded. We, however, advise
all collectors to leave them severely alone."

So far, the Society for the Suppression of Speculative Stamps may congratulate
itself upon its success. It has embarked upon a delicate and difficult undertaking,
and its success must largely depend upon the support of the publishers of catalogues
and albums. That support, up to date, has been accorded to its recommendations,
almost unanimously as they phrase it at political meetings.

Training Mr. E. F. Gambs is a far-seeing American. He notes a falling off in
future" the demand for stamps on the part of the younger element. Consequently
oiiectors. ^e suggests that the large dealers should combine to give away a few
millions of continental stamps to school children by some method that would
ensure the wide distribution of the stamps. And he offers to lead the way with
half-a-million. Mr. Gambs is on the right track, and there is plenty of room for
further help in the same direction. As a matter of fact, we do little or nothing to
help our young collectors. Our journals are, one and all, written for the advanced
collector ; our albums are tending more and more in the same direction, and our
catalogues are being swollen out of all proportion by the enumeration of such
varieties as gladden the heart of the specialist. In every direction, in fact, the
specialist is the dominant factor. This should not be. Someone should find it
worth while to cater for the junior collector. A halfpenny or penny monthly which
should guide, counsel and instruct, would surely be a success, and pay an enterpris-
ing dealer-publisher in more ways than one. The ideal "Junior Collector"
monthly should deal with normal issues only, and not vex the soul of the beginner
with the finer distinctions of paper, perforation and watermark. Stamp collecting
as presented by the advanced collector from the scientific point of view is far too
complex ever to be popular with the average school boy. Most of the best collectors
of the day started their philatelic career as school boys. But in their day stamp
issuing countries were not numerous, and minor varieties were practically unknown.
It was all plain sailing then. All that is changed. The pons asinorum is child's
play compared to the complications of the average catalogue with its compound
perfs, perce en sa'e, serrated perfs ; papers bleute, pelure, batonne ; printings,
lithographed, engraved, surface printed ; and so on ad infinitum. If no one looks
to the training of the young collector, stamp collecting will assuredly lose its popu-
larity with our boys and girls, and as the veterans drop out of the ranks there will
be no one to fill their places.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

\Read before the Manchester Philatelic Society.
By G. B. Duerst.

HIS year being the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Franco -German War,
which was the cause of the issue of special stamps for the provinces of
Alsace, Lorraine and the occupied territories of France, I consider
it rather appropriate to make these stamps the subject of my next
paper.

We all know that these stamps were issued in consequence of the Franco-
German War, and this in itself should make them interesting to all collectors,
considering that they owe their origin to a decidedly historical period, a time
of trouble and anxiety, not only to the two nations principally concerned, but
also to all the other nations of Europe in a minor degree. How many stamps do exist
that have such a weighty reason for their existence? Their stern simplicity of
design seems to bear witness to the time of issue ; no name, no ornamentation,
neither head nor coat-of-arms, everything points to the fact that they were issued
at a grave period, when nobody could fore-see the ultimate end.

Let us remember, to begin with, that these stamps were not made for the
German troops, as all soldiers' letters, parcels, &c, were forwarded free of charge.
On the contrary, these were made for the benefit of the inhabitants of the conquered
territories, and in order not to humiliate a brave foe more by forcing them to use
German stamps when sending letters to their sons, prisoners of war in Germany,
the German government decided to issue special stamps, the inscription of which
was in the French language, and the value of which was expressed in French money.
We must not forget either that at first the German government lost 2 pfennig, equal
to 1 farthing, on every ordinary letter franked with such stamps, the rate for such
letters in Germany being 10 pfennig, whereas 10 centimes equals only 8 pfennig.

It is interesting to know that the German government already in August, 1870,
had practically decided upon what land had to be ceded by France, as all the
obliterating dies of places within this radius having French names were issued bear-
ing their old German names. Thus we find :

Mulhouse changed to Miilhausen.

Strassbourg

Nancy

Thionville

Riquevihr

Ferrette

Wasselonne

Strassburg.

Nanzig.

Diedenhofen

Reichenweier.

Pfirt.

Wasselnheim, &c.

Of course, we also find the old French obliterating dies, but rarer.

For all places outside this radius the French obliterating dies were used as they
were found, but, in uniformity with the German custom, only the dies having name
and date inscribed. The French dot dies have also been used, but very rarely ; as
a matter of fact, it was against all orders to do so. Naturally, when the French
die was worn out or got damaged a new one had to be made, and then we find
German-shaped dies with French names, notably Rouen.

Wherever the German troops went they established post offices, but whether
these stamps were ever used in Paris is very doubtful. Reinheimer, in his work,
mentions a specimen with the Paris obliteration, but, unfortunately, the die does

ALSACE-LORRAINE. 37

not give any year. Krotsch gives also one, but the date there is August 16th,
187 1 ; a date which is about six months after the time these stamps could be used
in France, besides there is on the envelope a French stamp (Head of Liberty), 20 c.
blue, which paid the postage.

As far as official records can be found, no German post office was established
in Paris during the limited stay of the German troops, and, of course, if no
German post office existed, no letters with Alsace-Lorraine stamps would be
forwarded.

The name these stamps generally go by, namely stamps of Alsace-Lorraine, I
consider to be rather a misnomer, as they were really intended to be used in the
whole of the occupied provinces of France, and not only in the two ceded provinces
of Alsace and Lorraine. The appellation which I have seen in print formerly,
" Franco-German war stamps," is also not quite correct, as the stamps were still in
use nine months after the peace was signed. Besides, they were really used after
the war had passed the district, and then only by private people, not by soldiers.
Of course, a great many of these private letters were forwarded by the German field
post service, and were then obliterated with the specific dies belonging to each
service.

The only expression I can find to cover the whole ground is : " Stamps used in
French territories occupied by German troops in 1870 and 187 1 ;" but this is much
too long for all practical purposes. Dr. Moschkan calls them in his book, "Occu-
pation stamps," and, although this might apply to different countries, I think it is
the best so far.

This " Occupation " postal service came into use in the beginning of September,
1870. It had its own administration, with headquarters at first at Nancy, later
removed to Rheims ; also General Post Offices at Metz (from the 6th of October)
for German Lorraine, and at Strassburg (from the 1st of October) for Alsace. It
had its own laws, taxes, &c, &c, and came to an end on the 24th March, 187 1,
when all offices outside the ceded provinces of Alsace and Lorraine were handed
over to French officials in accordance with the convention signed on the 22nd of
March. A few places were still in German hands, but further negotiations also
gave these back to France. The most notable of these places was Belfort.

From this date (24th of March, 187 1) all letters in the interior of Fiance, or
from France to other countries, had again to be franked by French stamps at the
same rates that were in force before the war.

In the ceded provinces of Alsace-Lorraine these stamps were used until the 31st
December, 187 1. Mr. R. F. Albrecht says in the Illustrated Stamp Journal, that
letters franked with such stamps were allowed until late into 1873, but I cannot
quite agree with him, as the decree dated Berlin, 16th of October, 1871, distinctly
states that letters franked with such stamps after the 31st of December, 1871, should
be considered as not franked.

Until February 15th unused stamps could be exchanged at the post offices for
German stamps, which had to be used since the 1st of January, 1872.

It was not until after the Battle of Sedan that a German post was established in
the occupied territories, and the first decree for this service was published in the
Official Gazette under date of September 6th, 1870, as follows :

The following rules have to be observed in regard to correspondence with the
district of the Postal Administration at Nancy:

Articles, that can be forwarded.

(a) Ordinary and registered letters, post cards, newspapers and samples.
(&) Letters with declared contents (money or valuables).

Routes all postal matter has to be sent by.
(a) Via Saarbrucken— Forbach — Remilly.

(b) „ Frankfort-o/Maine — Landau — Weissemburg.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

(a)

(*)

J)
55

55
55

(*)

55
55

TARIFF.
A. From Germany.
For ordinary prepaid letters up to i loth*

„ postcards

ordinary prepaid letters, 1-15 loth
„ unpaid „ up to 1 loth
„ „ „ 1-1 Sloth

prepaid newspapers, per 2\ loth .
„ samples, „ „

„ registered letters in addition to the ordinary postage

B. To Germany.
For ordinary prepaid letters, up to 15 grammes,

postcards

ordinary prepaid letters, 15-250 grammes
„ unpaid „ up to 1 5 grammes
15-250 grammes .
prepaid newspapers, per 40 grammes .

„ samples, „ „ . .

registered letters an additional fee of .
For the prepayment of all letters, etc., from the district of the Postal Administration
of Nancy, new stamps have to be used bearing the inscription POSTES and the value
in centimes. Stamps will be issued as follows :

1 centime, light green impression on white paper

1 gr. or 3 kr.

1 5, 3 55

2 „ 7 »
25 centimes

lary postage

\ gr. or 1 kr.
i 1

3 5? L 35

2 „ 7 35

10 centimes

10 „

2 gr. or 7 kr.

3 ,3 11 „
4 centimes

4
25

4 ,, grey

10 „ light brown

20 „ blue „ „ ,,

Letters franked with other stamps than the above will be treated as not franked.
For letters to and from foreign countries the old rates of the district of Nancy remain
in force.

On the 29th September, 1870, Paris was completely surrounded by German
troops, and in order to establish some connection with the rest of France, the Postal
Administration despatched a number of balloons. Some of these balloons landed in
Belgium and Holland, which was the cause of the following decree :
No. 176. Berlin, October % 1870.

A number of letters sent per balloons from Paris, consisting of small, open letters,
have been forwarded by the Post Office at Lille, enclosed in a wrapper, to Germany.

Such letters, if their contents should allow of their being forwarded, have in future
to be enclosed in separate envelopes by the receiving post office, and these envelopes
have to be fully and legibly addressed.

On the back of these envelopes the following remark has to be made :
" Enclosure received per balloon post from France."
Such letters have to be treated as unpaid and the tax for the same will be 2 groschen or
7 kreuzer, payable by the receiver.

In the same number of the Official Gazette the public was notified that letters
for Paris could not any longer be guaranteed to arrive there.

On the 13th of October, 1870, a further decree appeared, dealing exclusively
with the internal postal arrangements of Alsace and Lorraine.

The most important item in this decree is the tariff, as follows :
For ordinary prepaid letters, up to 15 grammes, and cards
33 33. 33 15-250 grammes

,, unpaid „ up to 15 grammes
33 33 33 15-250 grammes

printed matter, samples, per 40 grammes
registered letters, an additional fee of
double receipt of receiver to be returned to sender
express delivery of letters in the same town

,, „ „ per 7| kilometers (5 miles)

(a)

(b)

(c)

{d)

(e)

(/')

<*>

(k)

. 10 C<

mti

. 25

. 40

. 4

. 25

• 30

• 75

loth = 16 grammes.

ALSA CE-LORRAINE.

For letters to and from the North German Confederation the rates, as per decree of
September 6th, remained in force.

On November 8th, 1870, money orders were introduced, the rates for which were
as follows :

For sums up to 100 francs 25 centimes

„ from 100-200 „ 50 „

„ „ 200-300 „ 75 „

and so on for every 100 „ 25 „

It is very strange that up to now no official decree has been found concerning
the issue of the 5 and 25 centimes stamps. The latter was no doubt necessitated
by registration and money order fees, and the former by the raising of the postage
for ordinary prepaid letters from 10 to 15 centimes, doubtless occasioned in con-
sequence of the more and more extended occupation area of the German armies.

Regarding the issue there seems to be no doubt that the i, 2; 4, 10 and 20
centimes stamps were sold early in September, but the two values, 5 and 25 centimes,
most likely not till the middle of December. An exact date for these two values
cannot be found.

Issue of September, 1870.

Large figure of value in centre, at top in a straight line postes, below also in a
straight line centime resp. centimes, the design is surrounded by four thick lines,
and a network of wavy lines fills the background. The shape is upright rectangular.
The stamps were printed in colour on white wove paper, in sheets of 150 stamps
in 15 rows of 10. Perforated 14 x 13 J.

The best assortment of shades has been compiled by Krotzsch, and I do not
think I can improve on it.

/. The points

of the network are u

pwards:

Design.

Net.

1 centime .

olive green

blue green

grey green

• jj

2 centimes

brown

red brown

violet brown .

4 centimes

lilac grey

grey

10 centimes

fawn

))

• jj •

dark yellow brown

light

brown

light brown

light brown .

• jj

jj •

dark yellow brown

light

yellow brown .

u jj

dark „

brown

))

brown orange .

light yellow brown

lemon

20 centimes

ultramarine .

ultramarine

light blue

))

jj • *

dark blue

blue

light blue

ultramarine

11. The points

of the net-work are dc

iwnwards:

Design.

Net.

1 centime .

olive green

blue green

grey green

2 centimes .

brown

red brown

violet brown .

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Design.

Net.

29.

4 centimes .

lilac grey

grey

30.

grey

•)•>

31-

10 centimes .

fawn

32.

dark yellow brown

33-

light

34-

•>•>

brown

35-

light brown

36.

light brown .

37-

11 '

dark brown

38.

light yellow brown

39-

yellow brown .

jj JJ

40.

dark „

brown orange .

light

• 42.

lemon

43-

20 centimes .

ultramarine

44.

blue

light blue

Issue of December, 1870.
Identical with last.
The points of the network are upwards

Design.

Net.

45-

centimes

green

46.

light green

47-
48.

5)
11

grass green

grass green
light green

49.

light green

50.

dark green

Si-

centimes

dark yellow brown

. dark yellow brown

52.
53-
54-

11
11
11

.chocolate brown

• light

yellow brown
11

55-
56.

11 _
centimes

dark grey brown
light green

11
dark green

57-

centimes

dark brown

light brown

The revei

•sed network ow

ss its origin to the fact that these stamps vver

in two operations, first the net and then the design. In the hurry of printing, much
attention was not paid to the sheets after having received the net impression when
they were put into the machine for the printing of the design.

The rotation of the rarity of the stamps with reversed net is as follows, to begin
with the lowest : —

Unused : 10c, 4c, 20c, ic, 25c, 2c, 5c.
Used: 10c, 2c, 4c, ic, 20c, 25c, 5c.

Nearly one-third of the whole issue of 10 centimes is with reversed net.

Sometimes the network is printed in such light colours that it is scarcely visible.
This applies principally to the 10 centimes stamps.

I will next explain the mode of printing these stamps, and the reason of the
existence of different types in all values will then be quite clear.

{To be continued.)

THE STAMPS OF REUNION.

THE STAMPS OF REUNION.
By William Herrick.

Read before the Philatelic Society, New York, January 20, 1896.

ROM the beginning of stamp collecting, the name of Reunion has
brought to the mind of collectors stamps of great rarity, that, even
in the early days, were put among the unattainable ones ; but
strange to say, while stamps that were then common have increased
in value a hundred fold ; the two first stamps of Reunion have not
appreciated nearly as rapidly, though the few specimens that occasionally are
put on the market command very reputable prices.

The Island of Reunion is situated on the eastern coast of Africa, about
375 miles S. E. of Madagascar and 100 miles S. of Mauritius; the principal city
is St. Denis, and the population of the Island is about 200,000.

Reunion was the first French colony to issue stamps of its own, for in 1852 the
two well known type set stamps were brought out, preceding by about seven years
the regular eagle colonial issue.

As this first issue is very interesting, I hope I will be excused for giving at full
length the translation of the decree authorizing it.

FRENCH REPUBLIC.
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
In the name of the French People, We, Governor of the Island of Reunion, con-
sidering Article 11, of the law of April 24, 1833, about the legislation of the Colonies.

Considering the ministerial despatches of June 13 and August 14 last, Nos. 230 and
330, concerning" the prepayment of letters for France and foreign countries and the use of
postage stamps.

On the report of the director of the Interior.

The privy council having been heard, have decided and decree as follows : —
ART. 1. From Jan. 1 next, the prepayment of letters for France and for the countries
to which France is intermediate, can be effected by means of postage stamps, according
to the tariffs A and B annexed to the present decree, whether the letters be sent by
trading vessels going to France or by the British post.

Art. 2. All letters sent from the Colony to France by trading vessels must carry :
1st. The rate applicable in Fiance to letters going in the interior of the country,
from office to office, the tariff of which is fixed as follows : —
For letters weighing 7| grammes and less, fr. C25
l\ » to I5gr. 0-50

15 „ to ioogr. roo

100 ,, to 200gr. 2-oo

and so on, adding ifr. for each weight of ioogr. or fraction thereof.

2nd. A fixed charged of o'io for sea carriage from the shipping port to the port of
arrival in France.

Art. 3. The letters from the Colony for France, carried by the British packet boats,
are taxed as follows : —

ifr. if the letter weighs

73 grammes.

2fr. „ „ „ „ 7$ to 15

3fr. v » »> » 15 to 22^,,

and so on, adding ifr. for each additional 7^ gr.

This rate represents all the charges due to England and Fiance from Alexandria to
its destination.

The letters sent from the Colony to countries to which France is intermediate, can be
prepaid with postage stamps, according to the rates given in the tariffs A and C, viz.: —

1st. Those sent by trading vessels, according to the rates of tariff A, plus the fixed
charge, for sea carriage, of 10c. per letter.

2nd. Those sent by way of Suez, according to the rates of tariff C.

42 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Art. 4. The tax of 10c. for sea carriage, is not applicable to letters sent to France
by non-com. officers or privates of the army or navy, when the letters are not sent by a
foreign route.

Art. 5. The prepayment of letters through the Colony can be effected by means of
30c. stamps for single rate letters, weighing 7^ gr. and under. Letters weighing more
than 7^gr., will pay proportionately to their weight, at the rate of 30c. for each additional
7 \ gr. or fraction thereof.

Art. 6. If the prepayment is insufficient, the balance must be paid by the recipient.

Art. 7. The local rate for the interior remains fixed at 15c, whatever may be the
weight of the letter. The prepayment can be effected by means of postage stamps that
will be sold to whosoever wishes to use them, on payment of 15c. for each stamp.

Art. 8. The postage stamps will be sold for cash in all distributing offices.

There will be 10c, 25c. and 1 fr. stamps for the letters for France and foreign
countries, and 15 and 30c. stamps for the interior service of the colony.

Art. 9. Whosoever makes use of stamps having already been used shall be punished
by penalties of simple police.

Art. 10. The rates mentioned above for foreign postage do not include those due
to the British post office to Alexandria for letters sent by way of Egypt.

Art. 11. The Director of the Interior is entrusted with the execution of this decree,
which will be published and registered and inserted in the Official Bulletin of the Colony.
St. Denis, Dec. 10, 185 1. The Governor Doret.

The Director of the Interior, Ed. Maner.

The stamps authorized by the decree given above, are of the value of 15c. and
30c., both type set and printed in black, on thin bluish wove paper.

The design is different for each value ; both stamps have at the top the words :
" He de la Reunion," in one line, and at the bottom " Timb.-Poste," 15c. or 30c,
also in one line, the space between these two inscriptions being filled up with an
ornamental design; for the 15c. it is a rosette, surrounded by a rectangular frame
composed of eight shaded balls, connected by straight and curved lines ; for the
30c. it is a rectangular frame of small, straight crossed lines and curved lines, which
also fill up the centre of the frame. The whole stamp is surrounded by a frame
formed of two lines, the inner one thin, and the outer one thick.

There are four types of each value, differing one from the other by minute
details. The relative position of the different types is not known, as no unsevered
pairs have come to light. It is possible, however, that both values were printed on
one sheet. The stamps were not gummed and seem to have been generally affixed
on the letters with wafers, which, taken together with the thinness of the paper,
accounts for the damaged condition of many of the specimens known.

There was only one issue made, towards the end of 1851, when 7,500 stamps of
each value were printed ; they were in use from Jan. 1, 1852, until Jan. 1, i860,
but they do not seem to have met with much favour, it is said, on account of their
not being gummed, for during five years the post office at St. Denis, the most im-
portant of the Island, only sold 8frs. worth of these stamps.

In i860, when the regular colonial stamps of the eagle type were received, all
the remainder were burned. These stamps are always cancelled with pen strokes,
for regular cancelling stamps were only brought into use in the Colony in i860.

In 1866, reprints were made for Mr. Moens of Brussels, but owing to the plate
having been damaged by rust, for it had been kept in a damp cellar, the reprinted
sheets only show three types of each value, printed in two horizontal rows, the 30
below the 15. These reprints can be distinguished from the originals by the paper,
which is lighter in color, and especially by the outer line of the frame, which, in the
originals is formed by two thin printer's rules, and in the reprint by a single thick one.

On Dec. 10, 1885, in order to supply a deficiency of 5, 10 and 25c. stamps, a
decree, signed by the Governor Cuinier, authorized the surcharging of 300,000
stamps of old issues in stock.

The quantities printed were 167,500 5c, 82,500 10c, and 50,000 25c.

The stamps used were the 40c. vermilion, of the eagle type, surcharged 5 and 25,
the 30c. brown, laureated head of the emperor, surcharged 5, the 40c. orange, head

THE STAMPS OF REUNION, 43

of the republic, surcharged 5, and the 40c. vermilion, of the 1877 issue, surcharged
5 and 10, all imperforated.

The surcharge consists in the figures 5, 10 or 25c. and underneath a capital
roman R.

The length of the surcharge 5c. is 8mm., of the 10c. ujmm., and of the 25c.
11mm. ; the height of the figures is 4|mm. ; the letter R is 2Jmm. high and
2|mm. wide.

There are no varieties worth mentioning, except inverted surcharges of the 5c.
on all the four different types of stamps used. A surcharge 25c. reversed and
reading 52c. came out and caused long discussions, but it was finally found out to
have been made by an employe of the St. Denis post office, who was punished for
the offence.

On May 20, 1886, new surcharges were authorised by a decree signed by the
Governor Cuinier, this time to increase the supply of 5 and 20c. stamps. 54,000 5c.
and 26,000 o^oc. were made by surcharging the 30c. brown stamp of the 1887
issue.

The surcharges are similar to those of the previous issue, the only difference
being in the spacing of the figures of value, the length of the 5c. being 8Jmm., and
that of the 20c, i2jmm.

No varieties are known of this issue.

No more surcharges were made until June 28, 1891, when a decree, signed by
the Governor Lougnon, gave notice that after July 15 following, all the stamps in
use would be withdrawn and replaced by the same, bearing the name Reunion, sur-
charged diagonally in black, one month being allowed for people holding the stamps
in use, to exchange them for the new ones.

This was due, as it was in other colonies where the stamps were surcharged with
the name only, to the attention of the postal authorities having been drawn to the
fact that stamps were being sent by speculators from one colony to another, to take
advantage of the differences in currency.

The stamps surcharged were the following ones, of the perforated 1881-6 issue :

ic. black on bluish.

2c. brown on yellowish.

4c. violet on bluish.

5c. green on greenish.
ioc. black on lilac.
15c. blue.

20c. red on green.
25c. black on pink.
35c. brown on yellow.
40c. red on straw.
75c. carmine on pink.
ifr. olive on yellowish.

In addition to these, some remainders of older issues were used.

Of the 1872-3 head of Liberty issue :

40c. orange and 80c. carmine,

and of the 1877 issue :

30c. brown. 75c. carmine.

40c. red on straw. 1 fr. olive on yellowish.

The surcharge consists in the name, Reunion, in roman capitals printed diagon-
ally from the left upper to right lower coiner.

The height of the letters is 2|mm., and the length of the name about 15mm.,
but this latter measurement varies on some stamps, as the type was set to surcharge
an entire sheet of 150 stamps at a time, so minor varieties, due to broken letters and
irregular spacing, are comparatively numerous.

The only varieties worth mentioning are double surcharges on the ic, 5c, 20c,
of the perforated stamps ; also the letter I, of REUNION, missing on the 2c. and
5c. perforated.

A paragraph of this last decree authorized the creation of 2c. and 15c. stamps,
by surcharging in black the new value, and, in addition, the name REUNION

44 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

printed diagonally on the 20c. red on green, of the 1881 issue, 100,000 to be made
of each value ; this was due to the reduction in the rate of local postage, from
20 to 15 centimes.

These surcharges, as the previous ones, were set to print an entire sheet of
150 stamps.

The name, Reunion, is of the same type and has the same measurements as on
the stamps with name above; the value o*2C. and 15c. in letters 2mm. high, is
printed horizontally over the original value ; there are numerous varieties, caused
by the figures 2 or 5 being higher or lower than the o on, also by one or both of
the figures slanting : the only ones worthy of notice are the name REUNION
spelled RUNION and PEUNI N respectively on the 3rd and 25th stamps, of the
lower left hand pane ; these two errors exist for both values.

In this issue, both the stamps with name alone and with value changed have no
accent over the E of REUNION, while those of the next issue have one.

This new issue was authorised by a decree of Nov. 30, authorising the making
of 200,000 more 2c. stamps by a surcharge to be printed on the same 20c. stamp
red on green, used for the previous issue, the figure 2 to be larger than the
former one.

As was the case in the last issue, an entire sheet was printed at one time, the
surcharge being similar, consisting in the name printed diagonally and the figure 2,
without the letter C, printed on top of the original value.

There were three types of figure 2 used, which I will describe and designate by
the letters a, b, atid c

Type a, 70 on the sheet, the figure 2 is 4|mm. high, the bottom line is slightly
curved upward and ends squarely, the top stroke of the 2 ends in a ball.

Type b, 54 on the sheet, the figure 2 is 4jmm. high, the bottom is perfectly
straight and ends squarely, the top stroke of the 2 is thick but does not show
any ball.

Type c, 26 on the sheet, the figure 2 is 4mm. high and of almost the same
thickness throughout, the bottom stroke ends in an upward curve.

As in the previous issues, there are many unimportant varieties, the only ones
worth considering are the following ones, in which the name is mis-spelled by
transposition of the letters RUENION, type b, found on the 6th stamp of the left
upper pane, REUNOIN, type a, on the 22nd stamp of the left inside pane, and
type b on the nth stamp of the left upper pane.

The next issue was the one of Jan. 1893, now in use, of the general type with the
name printed in red or blue in the bottom label. As these stamps are so well
known, I will say nothing about them, but only mention some varieties that have
been chronicled.

ioc. with no accent over the E.

25c. and 75c. with the name printed twice, and 75c. on yellow paper, coloured
through instead of only on the surface.

This issue did not entirely put an end to surcharges, for on Dec. 7, 1893, the
Governor Danel signed a decree authorising the surcharging of 300,000 20c. stamps
red on green of 188 1-6, with the figure 2, for the 2-centime stamps still seemed to be
in great demand ; a paragraph of the decree provides for the burning of imperfectly
surcharged stamps.

_ The surcharge consists simply in a large figure 2, followed by the letter C,
printed over the original value; the setting up was made to surcharge only one
pane of 25 stamps at a time.

There are three types of the figure 2.

Type a, 18 on a sheet, height of 2, 5jmm., the top stroke ends in a ball.

Type b) 6 on a sheet, height of 2, 6mm., the top stroke ends in a thin line,
curving upward.

Type <r, 1 on a sheet, height of 2, 6|mm., similar to type a.

No varieties are known.

THE STAMPS OF REUNION. 45

Postage Due Stamps.

Besides the different issues of postage stamps I have mentioned; there are two
ssues of postage due stamps which I will briefly describe.

The first issue was made in 1889 and comprises four values 5, 10, 20, and 30
centimes.

These stamps, of the same type for all four values, are type set and printed in
black on yellowish wove paper.

At the top is the name REUNION and at the bottom the word POSTES, both
in roman capitals ; between, and separated from them by a thin line, and a row of
typographical ornaments, the figures of value 5 (10, 20 or 30), 3^mm. high, to the
right of which is the inscription Centimes a percevoir on three lines in lower case
type, letters |mm. high ; the whole surrounded by a double lined frame, about
I7jmm. wide by 2i^mm. high. There are ten types printed in two horizontal
rows showing only insignificant differences ; the same setting up was used for all
four values by simply changing the figures.

The four values have been seen with double impression.

In 1893 the same stamps were printed again, but a 15 centimes was substituted
for the 30.

The same setting up was used, but these stamps can be distinguished from the
earlier ones by the paper which is grayish ; the setting also seems to have been
going to pieces for varieties exist here especially in the second stamp of the top
row, besides several other less important ones. In the 5 and 15 centimes the
second stamp shows the ti of centimes and the a missing ; on the 10 centimes that
stamp has the last N of REUNION distant from the other letters. The 30 does not
show any very marked variation.

Numerous lithographic counterfeits have been made of the first issue, but they
can be easily detected by the examination of the frame indicated for the reprints.

In 1885 bogus surcharges were concocted in Paris consisting in the name La
Reunion with the value underneath, both printed vertically, 5 was surcharged on
the 2 and 4 centimes and 25 on the 20.

From the " Metropolitan Philatelist:'

46 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

REVIEWS.

Scott's Catalogue. 56th Edition.

The Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, giving the date of issue, color, shape and
vahie of every postage stamp that has ever been issued by any Government of the
World. Neiv York : The Scott Stamp 6- Coin Co., Ltd.

The 1896, or 56th, edition of this popular catalogue is on the same lines as its
excellent predecessor of 1895. Seven closely printed pages of very useful " Hints
for Collectors " preface the edition, followed by a glossary of technical terms used
in philatelic catalogues, first in English, French and German, then in French and
English, and German and English. Next we have a table of stamp issuing countries
whose names in French differ materially from the English, and the same for German.
These tables are not duplicated in the reverse order as they might be, for a tyro
looking for, say, the Netherlands in Moens' catalogue would be as much at sea as
ever, even with the help of this table, to find it under the head of Pays-Bas. The
same applies to Suriname, which our French friends place under Guyane hollandaise.
Indeed, the table would be more useful to the English collector if the English-French
and English-German were given, instead of vice versa. A coin table is, of course, a
necessary part of every well ordered catalogue, and the list of Colonies controlled
by European States will be helpful. It might be improved if the Colonies were
given under their several Continents, instead of in alphabetical order. In the
pricing many alterations are noticeable, mostly in the upward direction, though the
publishers have not scrupled to lower prices here and there. U. S. stamps are, of
course, up by leaps and bounds. The departmental stamps which totalled up to
$164*21 unused and $159.04 used, have risen to $28575 unused and $27876 used.
Some North Americans also show a considerable increase in price. New Zealand
stamps with advertisements on the back are chronicled for the first time. They are
divided into two sets, one perf. 11 J and the other perf. 10, but they are not priced.
We suppose there was no help for cataloguing this shoddy, though no doubt the tempo-
rary boycott to which they have been subjected has had a good result. Despite the
excellent lead of Gibbons' catalogue, our American friends, in their conservative
way, preserve the old method of mixing up adhesives, envelopes and postcards. We
are glad to note that reprints are omitted. Their inclusion was a very noticeable
defect in the 1895 edition. Speculative and unnecessary issues which have been
condemned by the S. S. S. S. are excluded, with the regrettable exception of the
Commemorative stamp of the Transvaal, as bad an example of the speculative type
as any stamp that has been condemned, the inclusion of which is a blot on an
excellent catalogue.

Bright's A.B.C. Catalogue.

Bright 6° Son, the Arcade, Bournemouth.

Just as we are going to press we have received from Messrs. Bright & Son
their much-advertised " A. B. C." catalogue. It is admirably printed, and with its
700 pages is a marvel of cheapness at is. 9d. post free. For size and style it follows
Scott and Gibbons. Many of the illustrations, however, are sadly lacking in clear-
ness, but the beautifully clear type and print of the text compensate for much.
Upon the pricing we cannot be expected to say ditto all round, but we are bound
to confess, upon a cursory inspection, that it has the stamp of independence and
care. Later on, if space permit, we may enter upon a more critical examination of
the new claimant. Meanwhile we congratulate Messrs. Bright & Son upon the strong
position taken up in the " A. B. C." in regard to stamps condemned by the S. S. S. S.,
every one of which is excluded from the "A. B. C."

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES,

Argentine Republic The P.J.G.B.

hears that :

The authorities are not satisfied with the water-
mark of the present paper, which is artificial,
being impressed after the paper is made. Some
paper has been obtained with a true watermark,
and already the ^c. and 2c. and 3c. have been
printed on it. The watermark is slightly larger,
and of course more distinct, while the paper is
whiter. In the ^c. which is before us, the blue is
a slightly different shade.

Adhesives.

§c, blue, on wmk. paper
2C, green ,, ,,

3c, orange ,, ,,

Austria. — We have the ig. and 2g. in
new colours and varying peifs. The ig. is
perf. io£ and the 2g. n£.

A dhesives.

ig., pale lilac
2g., pale green

Austrian Levant.- -We have received
the old type in new colours. The top is perf.
\\\ and the 2op. is perf. \o\.

Adhesives.

iof. on ig., pale green, black sur.
2of. on 2g., pale lilac ,, ,,

British East Africa.— The following
illustrations show the surcharge of i\ on
4£a. on the I. B. E. A. Company's stamps,
and the type of the surcharge on the Indian
stamps chronicled by us last month.

We -have no further news as yet of the
contemplated new issue of permanent type,
but understand that they are on the way.

Cuba.

have been

—The colours of the current type
changed.

Adhesives.
\\\\. de p., blue green.

ic. de p., lilac brown,
claret.

rose .

slate-blue,
emerald-green,
violet.

Curacao — Last month we chronicled a
surcharged i\ cent in one line in red. There
is also a i\ cent in two lines in black. We
illustrate both types.

Adhesive.
7.\c. on 30c, grey, black sur.

Cyprus.— The A ustralian Philatelist
chronicles the following values, each printed
in two colours.

Adhesives.

30 paras, lilac and green.
I piastre, green and carmine.

1 ,, rose and blue.

2 ,, blue and chocolate.
4 ,, olive and purple.

6 ,, brown and green.
12 ,, pale brown and black.

Falkland Islands.— Messrs. Whitfield,
King & Co. inform us that the is. stamp is
now on paper, watermarked C.A. Two new
values have been added to the types of the
current series.

Adhesives.

reddish lilac,
vermilion,
pale brown.

Mauritius.— We illustrate the new 3
cents lilac chronicled by us last month.

Holland.— According to the Timbre
Poste we may shortly expect a 5 gulden
stamp, also new letter cards, with portrait of
the young Queen.

Orange Free State.— Our publishers
have received from a correspondent in the

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Orange Free State, a variety of the pro-
visional type sent out in December last, with
the |d. stamp overprinted with the arms of
the Republic. The peculiarity of this variety
is that it has a surcharge of id. in black on
the £d. stamp. The correspondent says it
was only in use for about ten days.

Postcard.
Id. on \&- surcharge with arms.

Santander. — We have a new type of
5c. which is said to be the fore-runner of
a new series. It was issued on Jan. i.

Servia.— According to the ///. Br. Jour-
nal the current stamp of i dinar has been
issued in new colours, and the A. J. P.
chronicles a variety of the 10 paras postcard
without arms to the left.

Adhesive.

i dinar, red on blue.

Postcard.
10 paras, blue on cream, without arms .

Siam.— Mr. F. J. Dun-ant sends us a
curious variety of the surcharge of 2 atts on
64 atts, in which the " s " is separated from
the " t " in atts by a fullstop.

Spain The new types with older por-
trait of the young King, will consist of the
following, according to Die Post : —

Adhesives.

ic.j green.

2C, blue green.

5c, light blue,
ioc, red.
15c, violet.
20c, light green.
25c, blue.

Postcards.

30c, gray.
40c, dark brown.
50c, rose.
75c, yellow.

ip., light violet.

4p., carmine,
iop., flesh.

5c, green on buff,
ice, carmine on buff.
15c, blue on buff.

Transvaal.— The South African Phila-
telist calls attention to the fact that the 2|d.
though chronicled in the new type, has not
yet been issued. The same journal has the
following announcement : —

In a very short time the postage stamps now in
distribution in the Republic will be supplemented
by an entirely new stock, with improved design.
This morning the Postmaster- General has received
a few advance sheets of id. stamps, the value being
printed in the national colour — green. This idea
will be followed out in every case, and will doubt-
less be received with favour by the public. Acting
in agreement with his colleague in Cape Colony,
the Postmaster-General has decided that the fol-
lowing colours will be henceforth uniformly em-
ployed : £d. green, id. lake, 2d. raw sienna, 2\<\.
blue, 3d. carmine, 4d. yellowish green, 6d. reddish
violet, is. drab, 2S. 6d. violet, 5s. burnt sienna, 10s.

slate, ,£5. dark grey. Should the change give
general satisfaction, the Free State Government
has intimated its intention of co-operating in this
matter.

To this information the S. A. P. adds, on
the authority of the Postmaster of Johannes-
burg, that these new stamps " will not be
issued until all of the present type of stamps
are disposed of. As each value runs out the
new design will replace it. As regards the
i\d. stamp of the current design, now under
order, if they are already through the press
they will be issued before the new stamp of
this value."

Mr. F. J. Durrant sends us specimens of
a variety of the id. green surcharge on 2^d.
in which there is no top stroke to the figure.

Uruguay.— We give some further illus-
trations of the very beautiful stamps provided
for this country by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons.
In the Dec. No. of our last vol. we illustrated
the ic. and 5c.

The Montevideo Times of Dec. 3rd had
the following information concerning this
new series : —

The new postage stamps were put in circulation
yesterday. The 2 cent is indigo blue, with a
picture of the Solis Theatre. The 7 cent is olive
or sea green, and bears a bull's head, symbolic of
our principal industry. The 10 cents is sepia brown,
and has a figure that we take to be Ceres, holding
a sheaf of corn. The 20 and 25 cents are of large
size and in two colours, the picture in the centre
being in black. The 20 cents is green, and pre-
sents a large ship in full sail, which we may imagine
to be carrying Uruguayan produce to all parts of
the globe. The 25 cents is sienna colour, and
has the figure of an armed Amazon who may pass
for Bellona. These two last stamps remind us
very much of those now in use by North Borneo,
Laotian, and Liberia. The engraving, done by
Waterlow & Sons, is remarkably fine, and as
works of art the stamps are really beautiful speci-
mens. Still, to our thinking, the work is too
finicking to be effective, and a simpler but bolder
design would have been more to the purpose.
There was a tremendous rush at the Post-office
yesterday to secure specimens, and no doubt large
quantities will be sent to FAirope for collectors. In
this case it cannot be pretended that the issue is
superfluous, for the former issue of these values
had been exhausted some time, much to public in-
convenience.

And on the 3rd Jan. the same journal
added : —

New postage stamps of the values of 50 cents,
one, two and three pesos were issued to the public
on New Year's Day. The 50 cents is of the same
size as the 25 cents, the frame-work in pale blue on
a white ground, and the centre design, which is in
black, representing a winged head of Mercury.
The remaining stamps are of still larger size, as
befits their more exalted values, and are oblong.
The one peso has a border of sienna brown, with
the arms of the Republic in the centre in black.
The two pesos has the border in mauve, and the

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

centre design, in sea green, represents what we
imagine to be a view of the ancient fortress of
Montevideo, long since demolished. The three
pesos stamp has the border in carmine, whilst the
centre design, in royal blue, represents a highly
imaginative view of the Matriz or Cathedral in the
Plaza Constitucion, to which the engraver, in his
liberality, has given the proportions of a St. Peter's
at Rome.

The stamps are perf. 14J. Up to date
the full series stands as follows : —

Adhesive s.

2C, blue. 50 cent, black and blue.

7c. , green. i peso, black and brown,

ioc, brown. 2 pesos, sea-green & mauve.

20c, black and green. 3 ,, blue and carmine.

25c, ,, red brown.

Official Sta, tips.
ic., blue, black sur.
2C, brown-red ,,
5c, red

Venezuela — Mr. Marks has shown us
the 1 bolivar with the surcharged arms re-
versed.

1 bob, carmine and black, sur. inverted.

Victoria— Our publishers have the id.
brown newsband with the word " duty," in
the design spelled "dutw." The error is

very distinct. The specimen is dated Oct. 18,
1895.

Western Australia — We quoted from

the 5. C. F. under the head of " Philately
in the Mags." in our last No. the history of
the recent surcharges ." Half Penny " on 3d.,
but omitted to include them in our Chronicle.

Adhesives.
id. on 3d., brown, green sur.
id. on 3d., brown, red sur.

Zanzibar. — We illustrated the sur-
charge on the Indian stamps. It will be
noted that it is the old type of 1 rupee, not
the new type, that is surcharged.
giiililii.it..iiilnliinii»ri1iiii»iln[n.in1iiiniiiiiiiiiii)iig

MONTHLY PACKETS OF NEW ISSUES.

No. 1. — Price One Shilling (postage extra).
The February Packet contains five Varieties, all
unused, viz. : — Gibraltar 20c. ; Perak 2c. ; Nor-
way 1 ore ; and British Central Africa id. and 2d.

No. 2. — Price Five Shillings (postage extra).
The February Packet contains ten Varieties, all
unused, viz. : — Gibraltar 1 peseta ; Holland Un-
paid, 1895, ic, ijc., 2|c, 5c, ioc, I2jc, 15c
and 25c ; and St. Thomas 10 on 50c

•These packets are on sale from February
25th to March 24th (unless the supply is
previously exhausted), and are supplied only
to Subscribers to the " Philatelic Record and
Stamp News." Similar packets will be on
sale every month, and may be subscribed
for in advance for the year (January to
December inclusive), at the following rates :
No. 1 Packet (sent by book post with the
Paper), 12s. 6d., post free. No. 2 Packet
(by letter post), Inland, 61 s. ; Abroad,
62s. 6d., post free.

The Subscription to the Paper (3s. per
Annum) is extra. Buhl &* Co., Limited,
11, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.

5°

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

What shall we Collect?

The principal article in the January London
Philatelist is a very interesting one from the
pen of Mr. Castle, under the curious title
of " Philately in the Expiring Century." Its
object is to provide an answer to the old
question, What shall we collect ? Needless
to say, the advice of such an old hand as the
writer of the reply is full of food for reflection.
Opening with a consideration of the different
schools, Mr. Castle subdivides " the modern
apostles of specialising " into four classes : —

A. Used stamps entirely.

B. Unused stamps entirely.

C. Both unused and used stamps.

D. Unused and used stamps indiscrimi-

nately.
With regard to Class A he admits that " be-
yond the rapidly dying fallacy that used
stamps are more likely to be genuine than
unused," he favours "a little of postmark,
but not very much of it," for

The generality of used stamps that are commoner
than uncancelled specimens are, unless spoiled by
the postmark, the next best thing to used. They
have, as a rule, the great advantage of being far
more easily obtainable, and they are frequently
invaluable, for the following reasons : —

The dates of the postmarks.

The help towards discriminating between re-
prints and originals.

The exposition of all the shades and printings
of a stamp ; almost impossible in unused alone.

As to his known preference for unused he
says : —

The pioneers of advanced stamp collecting, al-
most without exception, from the " sixties " down-
ward, have always held the stamp unused as the
special object of their adoration. Their example
has slowly but surely gained way, in spite of the
tremendous obstacles to the general acceptance of
the creed. In olden days, there was a general
belief among the multitude that postmarks in some
way were a guarantee of genuineness. This fallacy,
though it long lingered on the Continent, has
passed away. Its successor was the fear that used
stamps were safer, on account of the reprints.
Thanks to the great strides made in Philatelic
knowledge, this bugbear has almost disappeared,
and it is safe to say that, within a very few years,
the means of discernment between genuine Original
and Reprint will be so generally spread, that no
collector who is not inherently lazy will need to be
deceived.

I advocate, in short, the collection of unused
stamps for all who can afford it, I believe that not
only do they constitute the greatest beauty, but
also the true Philatelic difficulty of collecting. I
think, further, that those who consider the financial
aspect of the question will find their best invest-

ment, however large, in immaculate unused speci-
mens. Outside the more difficult countries to be
named in Classes B and C, there are plenty whose
stamps, unused, will constitute, for years yet, a
happy hunting ground of real rarities, at compara-
tively low prices ; and they will be wise, in my
humble judgment, who " take time by the fore-
lock."

His advice in the selection of specimens
in the collection of used stamps will be borne
in mind by every careful collector : —

It is hardly necessary to point out the advis-
ability of weighing with used stamps as well as
unused, the several important points of colour, im-
pression, well-centreing, margins, etc. The one
feature, however, which is all important for my
Class D is the obliteration. My motto for Class D
is briefly A minimum of postmark at a minimum
of outlay. Except in the case previously mentioned,
of the few countries where the obliterations are of
more value than the stamps (and of an occasional
date-stamp), it should be the view of collectors
that postmarks are in the nature of acquired evil
to the stamp (as innocent of it at its birth), and
that the less there is of it the better. The general
disregard of this view has been frequently brought
to my notice for many years past, as I find stamps
with perhaps fifty per cent, of postmark covered
surface. A golden rule in this matter is to endea-
vour, as far as possible, to avoid taking specimens
in which the centre is not clear of printer's ink.
The main feature of a stamp is almost invariably
the central design, whether a head, a heraldic
design, an animal, or a landscape, and if the pro-
minent features of any of these are blurred out by
postmark, not only the stamp suffers itself, but the
whole row on which it is placed.

The following lists will be scanned with
the deepest interest, and will probably be
useful to many who are hesitating as to
what to collect : —

List of Countries where Stamps are
mainly rarest used.
Bergedorf ) group.

S : : :- : : h™any

Mecklenburg- Strelitz . . . J

Romagna ..... Italy

Ionian Islands . )

Prince Edward's Island . . > Great Britain

Virgin Islands . . . . )

Partially rarer.

Hamburg, early issues . . ]

Heligoland ,, . . /

Mecklenburg- Schwerin, later issues > Germany
Schleswig-Holstein, early issues . I
Thurn and Taxis ,, J

Modena. later issues .

Parma

Italy

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

Ltst of Countries whose Stamps are gener-
ally FAR RARER UNUSED THAN USED.
Austria, Lombardy, and Hungary.
Australia (all seven colonies).
Baden.
Belgium.

British West Indies (almost all).
Brunswick.
France.
Great Britain.
Hanover.
Naples.

Parma (except last issues).
Portugal.
Prussia.
Sweden.

Thurn and Taxis.
Tuscany.
Wurtemburg.

List of Countries whose Stamps are matnly
rare, unused, or used.
British North American Possessions.
British Guiana.
Buenos Ayres.
Cape of Good Hope.
Ceylon.

Colombia, United States of.
Confederate States of America.
Fiji.
Hawaii.
Mauritius.

Moldavia (pre-Roumania).
Mexico (including component states).
Natal.
Nevis.

New South Wales.
New Zealand.
Oldenburg.
Philippines.
Portuguese Indies.
Reunion.
Shanghai.
Spain.
Switzerland.
Transvaal.
Trinidad.

United States (Postmaster's Issues, Locals,
etc.)

In his final list Mr. Castle has italicised
the countries that he thinks especially neg-
lected, and worthy of study, and he has
marked with a star those that are more diffi-
cult. We have followed his arrangement : —

Unused and Used Stamps indiscriminately.

Argentina.

Austria, Austrian-Italy, and Lombard)1.

Baden.

Barbados.*

Bavaria.

Belgium.

Bolivia. *

Brazil.*

British European Possessions (including

Heligoland.)*
British West African Possessions {including

St. Helena^*
Chili.

Cuba and Porto Rico.

Dutch Colonies.

Denmark.

Dominican Republic.

Egypt.

Finland*

France*

Germany, Thurn and Taxis, Emp. and Conf.

Great Britain.*

Greece.

Hamburg.

Hanover.

Holland.

Hongkong.

India*

Italy and Sardinia.

Jamaica.

Japan* (not plates).

Luxemburg.

Norway.

Paraguay.

Parma.*

Prussia.

Roumania.

Russia (Imperial).

Scrvia.

SicUy, Naples, and Two Sicilies *

South Australia*

Straits and Minor States.

Sweden.

Turkey* (issued varieties only\

Tuscany*

Uruguay*

Venezuela*

Wurtemburg.

Belgium Issues of 1865.

Hitherto it has been the practice of the
cataloguers to recognize two distinct print-
ings of the Belgian issues of 1865 ; for all
values, viz.: 10 c, 20c, 30c, 40 c, and 1 fr.
But according to the Timbre Post the ingen-
uity and skill which have been devoted to the
separation of these alleged printings have
been so much labour wasted. We quote our
excellent contemporary's explanation in full,
and congratulate Mr. Westoby upon his
discovery.

On the strength of " official " information, we
have stated in the past, both in the Timbre Poste
and in a brochure which we devoted to the stamps
of our country, that in 1865 there was a series of
stamps printed in London as well as in Belgium.
But of the former, we had latterly completely lost
sight of the 10, 20, 30 and 40 centimes, and con-
sequently entertained doubts as to their existence.
But how to make sure that these doubts had any
foundation? It was practically impossible for us
to do so, and as to applying to our virtuous
Minister of Posts, it was not to be thought of.

Having been in communication lately with our
old friend Mr. Westoby, the latter by means of
his influential position has been able to obtain
precise information on this subject which will put
an end to the researches and to the despair of a
considerable number of collectors. Here is the
letter which we have received :

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Folkestone, 15 Jcrnry. 1896.
Dear Mr. Moens,

The doubts which you express with regard
to the London prints of the 10, 20, 30 and 40 cen-
times of the 1865 issue are well founded. I can
tell you positively that the only printing of the
stamps of that issue which was made in London
was confined to 1,500 sheets of 1 franc stamps,
the ivhole of which were delivered perforated.

The consignment was accompanied, it is true,
with some proofs in colour of the 10, 20, 30 and
40 centimes, but there was none of these values
for postal use.

Accept, &c,

W. A. S. Westoby.
When the printing material arrived in Belgium,
it was found that Messrs. De la Rue & Co. had
sent a supply of the various inks and also some of
the paper intended for the printing of the stamps.
The English workmen, who received good pay
(25 francs a day, it used to be said), executed the
first printing for the instruction of the Belgian
printers who would have to continue the work.
It is this first printing which has caused confusion.
In fact, of the London printing of 1865, with
white surfaced paper and the perforation 14 X 14,
there is but one value only :

I franc, lilac,
and of the local printing, on the same paper, per-
forated 14 X 14^ :

10 centimes, iron-grey,
20 ,, light blue, blue,
30 ,, reddish-brown,
40 ,, carmine,
I franc. lilac.
For want of a machine, the perforation was at
that time confided to a private individual, M.
Gouweloos, of Brussels; this perforation changed,
and as a result of circumstances of which we have
spoken, the Government decided to buy a machine
perforating both ways at once, the contrary to the
machine of Gouweloos ; whence we have the
perforation 15 on all four sides.

We examined again the stamps of the so-called
London impression.

On comparing them with the proofs which ac-
companied the shipment of Messrs. De la Rue & Co.
we find that :
the 10 centimes is in the correct colour,
., 20 ,, is of a little darker blue.
,, 30 ,, is of a deeper colour, and less red,
„ 40 „ is in rose instead of carmine.
The printing of all is less distinct.

On comparing the I franc, London print, with
the proof of that colour, we find them identical.

The U.S. Watermark.

The watermark on the current series of
the stamps of the United States is certainly
very indistinct. The perfection of a water-
mark is one which is complete and clear on
each stamp. The U.S. watermark is sprawl-
ed over several stamps. It is to be hoped
that the following from the Weekly Phila-
telic Era (U.S.) is correct :

The watermark on U.S. stamps is shortly to be
changed — I think. I know that the following
design has been prepared, and will be used if it
is possible to make a clear, distinct watermark on

each stamp. The design consists of the letters

p q inside of a large letter D ; and the whole

thing goes on each stamp. I have my information
from a paper expert who has been consulted as to
the feasibility of the scheme, so you see, I'm
positive.

U.S. Triangle Varieties.

Mr. Luff, in the American Journal of
Philately, has an interesting note on the
triangle varieties on the current U.S. stamps.
He says :

Plate 170 (two cents) is composed of stamps of
triangles II and III. Only the three vertical rows
at the left side of the upper left quarter of the
sheet are of triangle II. The balance of the
plate is of triangle III. I am indebted to Mr.
H. B. Philips. Mr. Calvert Meade and Mr. E.
Roberts for information on this subject. The
explanation of this oddity is that two transfers
were used in entering the stamps on the plate.
It is not probable that new dies were made for the
stamps of the second and third varieties of the
triangle, but rather that the alterations were made
on the transfer rolls. It might easily happen that
two transfers were used on one plate, especially
as there are often several transfers on one roll. It
would be possible to have all three types of tri-
angle on one plate and in almost endless variety
of arrangement. But this is not at all probable.

The Capped 2c. of U.S. 1890.

Another peculiar minor variety in U.S.
stamps is the somewhat recent discovery of
capped twos in the 1890 issue. This variety
Mr. Luff, in the American Journal of Phila-
tely, now explains to be due to defective
workmanship :

By some means a bit of the transfer was chipped
off, in one case at the top of the left-hand figure,
in the other case at the top of both. These
broken transfers were used in making plates and
the combination of the two with others not damaged
made some very interesting things for collectors
of pairs and blocks. I have seen in the collection
of Mr. H. E. Deats a strip of ten stamps from
the right upper quarter of plate VV246, of which
the first three stamps (counting from the left) had
caps on the left hand figure, and the other stamps
of the row had caps on both figures. In the same
collection are strips from plates TT235, VV247
and VV 248, all the stamps of which have caps on
the figure at left, and a strip from VV245 w^h
caps on both figures. It may be of interest to
mention that plates SS232, TT236, 238 and 239
have no caps. UU240, 241, 242, 243 and 244
are one cent stamps. Other adjacent numbers I
have not seen. It is possible that some of them
are of the capped varieties.

I have not said anything about the variety with
cap on the right 2, because I do not believe in it.
It has been listed and I have seen several copies,
but I consider them simply dirty work. Some
careless workman failed to properly clean his plate
at night and the next morning the dried ink in the
sunken lines of the plate made the cap. I have
seen blocks of this sort of thing with caps, dashes
and assorted spots all around the numerals.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

Impending Changes in South Africans.

The South African Philatelist heralds
important changes in South African stamps.
Its announcement is as follows :

The terms of the proposal laid before the
various South African States by the Postmaster
General of the South African Republic for uni-
versal colours for the postage stamps of South
Africa has beea adopted. The colours of the various
issues will be the same as those of the current
South African Republic, the values being printed
on a coloured band. The colour of the band for
the S. A. R. stamps will be green, those of the
Cape of Good Hope red, of the Orange Free
State probably orange, and of Natal blue.

The S. A. P. surmises that the object of
such wholesale changes is " to facilitate
the identification of the various denomina-
tions, which process is now somewhat trying
to an official who may be sorting letters from
the different states in quest of insufficiently
prepaid letters. Natives have a knack of pre-
paying just the half of the postage due, and
the scheme is therefore quite justified."

Chilian Varieties.

Mr. H. A. Slade dealing with Chilian
issues, in the Bazaar Supplement, notes
some interesting varieties. He says :

On some copies of the ioc. imperforate, a hair-
line may be discerned, starting from the right
side of the " I " of " CHILE," cutting across the
left side of "l" of '-chile," crossing "v" of
" CENTAVOS " from left to right, and so running
off the edge of the stamp. Whether this was
done with some ulterior motive or arose from a
damaged die, is conjectural ; but as it exists, it
cannot be rejected as a variety unworthy of notice.
Are not hair-lines of some importance in certain
English stamps, well known to some of us?

Again, on ihe ioc. blue of the perforated issue
there appears either a secret mark or a flaw in the
die. Look to the left of Christopher's ear and
you will see a small white dot that is never absent
on this value, and never present on any other.
The early impressions of this ioc. are a fine deep
indigo, but the plate appears to have worn a good
deal, until the stamps arrive at a very pale blue.

Indian Native State Issues.

Mr. C. Stewart Wilson, President of the
Bengal Philatelic Society, has, in the Bazaar
Supplement, taken up the cudgels on behalf
of the much despised stamps of the Native
States of India. He explains that :

Within British India there are three main
varieties of postal administration, each one of
which is represented by a different class of postage-
stamp. We have (i) the Imperial Post ; (2) the
posts of certain native States, working indepen-
dently, as far as their internal communications
are concerned, but at the same time connected
with the Imperial Post by certain duties and
privileges, laid down in formal documents called
"Conventions"; and lastly, (3) the purely local
and generally very primitive postal arrangements
of certain native States, which have no connection
with any other postal system whatever.

To begin with the last class, which is repre-
sented mainly by the queer, uncouth, lithographed
labels that we know so well, the main point of
interest to a philatelist is that these stamps are
available only within the bounds of the State
issuing them. Some of these states are so small,
e.g., Bhor, Bamra, and Poonch, that their stamps
cannot claim any more philatelic interest than
Russian locals. The only really interesting stamps
of this class I consider to be those of Kashmir,
Hyderabad, Soruth, and Jhind, and then only if
the collector has sufficient knowledge to keep
clear of reprints. It is reprints that have made
this class of stamp so unpopular ; for the mere fact
that the stamps are not available for franking
letters outside the Raja's territories can hardly be
held to be important, so long as the early Alalta
halfpenny stamps and the early issues of the Cen-
tral and South American States are run after.

To the States which have been permitted to

enter into "Conventions" with the Imperial Post

has been accorded the privilege to use British

Indian stamps, surcharged with the name of the

State using them. Such stamps frank postal mat-

I ter to any part of India served by the Imperial

I Post, as well as throughout the confines of the

particular State concerned. While, therefore, they

1 too are " locals,'' they are so in a very different

j sense from those mentioned above.

They are supplied to the States "on indent."

I The stamps are withdrawn from the store kept by

1 the Government of India and are surcharged in

I the Government Press, under a system of perfectly

! unimpeachable superintendence. None of the

workmen employed can possibly possess himself

j of the surcharged stamps, so that they are not

tempted to make " errors " intentionally; while

the integrity cf the official in charge of the work

j is above suspicion. The stamps, after surcharge,

are supplied direct to the indenting State. The

Government of India sells none of them, except

j to the State concerned, nor can any one get them

except from the Post-Office of the State to which

they have been despatched. No profit is made by

the Indian Government out of the transaction.

The price charged is merely the actual cost of the

stamps supplied by Messrs. De la Rue, plus cost of

carriage and expense of surcharging.

The U. S. and Philatelists.

The Postal Authorities in the Great Re-
public seem to blow hot and cold on Phila-
telists. Plate number fiends as they are
termed have taken to worrying the post-
masters right and left for strips of three with
the plate no. attached. The postmasters in
not a few cases have returned the money
sent. But the " Post Office Guide," accord-
ing to the Weekly Philatelic Era, is more
considerate in the matter of stamped en-
velopes. It announces that : —

All stamped envelopes of the current issue can
be purchased of the Postmaster of Washing-
ton, D.C, on application in person, or by letter,
enclosing the price and return postage, including
registration fee. This is limited to small quan-
tities desired by collectors as specimens, and not
to satisfy business demands.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Causes of Speculation.

The Philatelic Chronicle has been trying
to find the reason why speculation now so
largely enters into stamp collecting. It
says : —

Two causes appear to have been largely in-
strumental in bringing about this state of affairs.
The greater, in our judgment, is the fact that
through all the vicissitudes of business, and the
depression in prices consequent upon hard times,
stamps have steadily maintained their values.
There have been absolutely no declines in the
prices of valuable varieties. A second and related
cause is the plain safety of investment in certain
stamps. There can be no decline in the value of the
United States stamps bought in sheets from the
post office. Hence large quantities have been
laid aside with the speculative notion that a great
rate of interest on money invested may be realised
as the natural result of collectors' and speculators'
desire to secure specimens Avhen they have gone
out of issue.

But yet another and probably truer ex-
planation might be found in the high prices
to which rare stamps have run up, and the
necessity which this forces on most col-
lectors of making both ends meet by a little
amateur dealing or speculation.

Indian Postal Inquisition.

The following from the Indian Philatelist
will show the depth to which the Indian
Postal authorities have descended in their
dealings with the public and philatelists :

NOTICE.

A foreign R. L., No. 2000, to your address,
received from abroad, is in detention in the Gen-
eral Post Office (under section 60 of the Post
Office Act) on suspicion of containing an article
on which duty is owing to Government. You
are, therefore, requested to appear at the office,
either personally or by agent, within 48 hours of
receipt of this notice, to witness the opening of
the said R. L., failing which it is liable to be
opened in your absence.

2. If the contents appear to be dutiable the
R. letter cannot be delivered, until the duty has
been assessed by the Customs authorities at
Bombay.

(Signed) W. B.

Post Office. Postmaster,

Dated 6th Oct., 1895. Place.

The printed notice says that the letter is " liable
to be opened." The above is a case in which the
letter was not only opened but was delayed a
week in delivery. This Paul-prying into private
registered letters is simply disgusting, and is un-
worthy of the Great British Imperial Government.
If such an Act exists it is simply a disgrace to its
framers as it puts great power in the hands of
inquisitive and unscrupulous Postmasters.

A case occurred lately with a philatelist, who
sent the following reply to the above printed
notice from the Postmaster : —

Sir, — I cannot walk two miles to see a letter
opened. Please send letter by Postal peon and I
will open it in his presence, and if contents dutia-
ble will return letter to you. — Yours,

A. B.

To this the Postmaster replied : — I am very
sorry I cannot comply with your request, as it is
imperative the cover should be opened at the Post
Office. If you can't come yourself, I shall per-
sonally open the article, as the letter is now lying
four days in deposit. — Yours truly,
{No date) W. B.

And opened the letter, without any authority
from the addressee.

How U.S. Periodical Stamps are obtained.

If you want to know what it is to bear the
burden of a State secret, ask any collector of
U. S. stamps how he got his set of " Perio-
dicals." MekeePs Weekly explains one
method : —

In a recent conversation with a collector of this
city considerable light was thrown on the subject.
" Why," he said, " there is little difficulty in ob-
taining these stamps if you only know how to go
about it. Watch for the newly-appointed post-
masters. They are not likely to know the need
of strictly observing the rules which forbid the sale
of these stamps to the general public, and many
in fact do not know of the existence of these rules,
until an infraction of them is called to their at-
tention."

St. Helena Postal Speculation.

The good people of St. Helena, if their
views are correctly voiced by the St. Helena
Guardian, look to stamp collectors for re-
venue. We are told quite candidly that : —

There is but one thing that will be the main
factor in saving it from ultimate bankruptcy — and
that is Philately. At the present time the colony
possesses but one stamp die — the sixpenny one.
All of the other values are reprints from this die.
Now it doesn't require a very extraordinarily keen
perception to understand that by having a new
stamp die — say, if we are fortunate enough to obtain
a reduction to the 2^d. rate, a 2^d. die — and have
the other values printed from it, there will be a
tremendous demand by Philatelists for both old
and new stamps, that it will certainly pay the
government to get one, and be the salvation of
the Colony. Like begets like, and so, with a sub-
stantial surplus in the treasury, the government
will be able to assist in opening up and developing
island industries, and so once more bring us into
a state of prosperity as in times past.

Probably the recent sale of is. stamps was
a move in the direction of saving the island
from bankruptcy.

FORGERIES AND REPRINTS.

Counterfeit U.S. 2 Cents.

According to the Weekly Philatelic Era
(U.S.), the postmasters at the capitals of
every state, were supplied with specimens of
the counterfeit 2 c. stamps by the P. O. De-
partment, for comparison with any doubtful
stamps that they might think were counter-
feit. Regarding them the department says :

The clear cut steel engraved stamps received
from the department should be compared with
the suspected counterfeit, remembering, for some
weeks beginning Oct. 5, '94, the genuine 2 c.
stamp was very pale in color, but did not exhibit
the chalky-white appearance distinguishing the
counterfeits, attributal, principally to the broken
horizontal lines, while those of the true steel en-
graved stamp are clear, continuous and clear cut.

Cape of Good Hope Error.

The South African Philatelist in its
second number, continued its excellent
warnings against forgeries of South African
stamps, and we gladly avail ourselves again
of the opportunity of giving them further
circulation in order that collectors may be
on their guard. The S.A.P. thus describes
a forgery of the red error of i860:

The general appearance of this forgery is very
deceptive. On closer examination I find that the
figure of " Hope " and the Anchor do not come
out so clearly as in the genuine, the face being
totally unrecognisable, nor are the corner orna-
ments as regularly formed. The length of the
base of the triangle in the forgery is 42 mm.
against 40 mm. in the genuine, while the left and
right sides of the triangle in the forgery each
measure 30 J mm. as against 29 mm. in the original.
The paper is yellowish wove, that of the genuine,
laid.

Zululand.

We hear of considerable activity in the
forgery of the surcharge " Zululand " on our
English stamps, but have not yet come
across a specimen. We shall be glad to
have one for inspection and exposure, as
early as possible, if any of our readers who
have been victimised will oblige us. Mean-
while, we note the following warning of the
S.A.P. of a bogus surcharge on Natal id.
rose, of 1882-4, water-mark, Crown and
C.A., black surcharge. The S.A.P. says :

The Natal id. rose was never surcharged
" Zululand " for use in that country. The type
used is larger in all respects than that of the
genuine. The Natal stamp on which it is sur-
charged has gone through the post.

British Bechuanaland.

Thanks to the S. A. P. the numerous
forgeries of the surcharged Bechuanaland
stamps are being set out in such clear de-
tail that no careful collectorneed be deceived.
The latest addition to the list is the id.,
black and carmine, of 1887, surcharged on
Cape of Good Hope, water-mark anchor.

In the forgeries, " British " measures 95 mm.
and " Bechuanaland " 18 mm., while in the
genuine they respectively measure 7§ mm. and
10J mm. This is a very feeble forgery. The type
used is slightly larger than that of the genuine.

Finland.

The Timbre Poste describes a fraud, os-
tensibly the 1 mark, mauve, of the 1885
type,' with serpentine perforation. The
Monthly Journal says that, fortunately, the
perforation on three sides of this stamp
does not correspond with the gauge of the
Finland stamps, and the cancellation is of
an unknown type. It is supposed to have
been made out of an imperforate proof or
essay, and we warn our readers against it
if it should be offered to them.

Swazieland Reprints.

As sheets of inverted surcharges of Swazie-
land stamps are being hawked about just
now, the following from the S.A.P. will be
of interest :

Regarding my remarks about the " Swazieland"
surcharge with full stop, I am now in the position
to present to the readers a letter from the Post-
master General to the Postmaster of Johannes-
burg on the subject.

General Post Office, South African Republic,
Pretoria, 12 June, 1895.

The Postmaster, Johannesburg. Dear Sir, —
In response to your request, I have the pleasure
hereby to certify that the stamps surcharged
" Swazieland " (with a fullstop after it) bought by
you from the Head Office, form portion of a sup-
ply of 10 sheets each of j, I and 2p. and one
sheet of 10/-, of which the printing took place in
the month July 1894.

I gave instructions that these stamps should be
printed from the old type, and the difference has
only now been noticed by me, and grieves me. —
I have the honour to be your obedient Servant
(signed) I. van Ai.fhen, Postmaster General.

It will be seen from the letter that this printing
took place in July, 1 894, long after they were
withdrawn from circulation. In reply to my
query why were they reprinted, I was informed
that it was on account of political reasons which
could not be divulged to me. It is, therefore,
evident that they are Official Reprints.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

A good Story.

The Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly has the
following good story from a correspondent
from Western Australia who is on a visit
to this country : —

It appears that the reprinting of the errors
mentioned in our last issue (which was so promptly
stopped hy the action of the Western Australian
Philatelic Society) was really an act of spite on the
part of the Postmaster General. It seems that a
clerk in the post office purchased nearly all the
errors over the counter, and when he was asked
by the Postmaster General to hand them back to
the government, he very naturally refused, he
having bought them in the legitimate way. Then
out of spite, and in order to lower the value of
these very scarce errors, the P. M. G. hastened to
reprint them, but not being a philatelist, he lost
sight of the fact that he had no more 3d. brown
with the watermark C.C. in stock. He there-
fore surcharged the 3d. brown with C.A. water-
mark, so that his "revenge" missed fire com-
pletely.

The New French Stamp.

Mons. Grasset's design for the new French
stamps is winning quite a chorus of praise
from the French newspapers. His " Dame
Republic" is a girlish creature of some
twenty-five summers. She wears a pleated
robe, and over her shoulders is a plate of
armour. The right hand rests upon a sword
while in the left is an olive branch. A shield
in the right hand corner bears the value in
antique figures ; and two scrolls have the
word "Postes " and " Republique Francaise"
inscribed upon them. Owing to the delicacy
of the design the stamp will be produced by
two successive printings. Forgery, it is
claimed, will be impossible.

Percy Cassandra Bishop.

The co-editor of the S. C, F. has taken to
prophecy in his old age. Says he, " If specu-
lation pure and simple be the New Philately,
it likes us not. It is a shoddy, sordid inno-
vation that will disgust the true timbrophile,
as the shooting of caged pigeons disgusts
the hunter of big game. Once put philately
in the grip of the speculator, and our hobby
is doomed. A hobby it will cease to be ; and
when it is no longer a hobby, down will go
the prices that are now paid for iiitrinsically
valueless scraps of paper, and instead of the
" boom " that the apostles of the New Phila-
tely predict, there will come a swift disas-
trous ' slump.' " But why get so downhearted
and make so much fuss over the cute business
move of a couple of dealers who are simply
booming their own particular wares in the
shape of new issues ?

Measurement of Perforations.

We are now settling down in this country
to the invariable measurement of perforations
on the following lines : — Compound per-
forations : top, bottom and sides. Mixed
perforations : top, bottom, left, right. And
we cannot do better than stick to this order
of measurement.

The U. S. Craze.

Mr. Crawford Capen, who has done more
than almost any other man to popularise
U.S. issues, now complains in the American
Philatelic Magazine that the collection in the
Republic of U. S. stamps tends to the neglect
of other countries. He protests that : —

The most valueless of all stamps on the ground
of rarity are the common varieties of United
States issues. No country in the world has or
does issue such immense numbers of stamps as
the United States. There are in existence enough
of the commonest varieties to supply all collectors
of the world with ten to one hundred or even
more specimens of each stamp. What actual
value then have these stamps ? None whatever.
Dealers must get something for them though.
They have not the time to handle them for
nothing. The rush to buy such United States
stamps as are really scarce, that is, those of which
the number issued and preserved is less than the
number of collectors desiring them, has pushed
the prices up above what the great majority of
collectors can afford to pay for them. It is to be
remembered that the majority of American col-
lectors are young people, mostly boys and girls in
school. They catch the prevailing fever for
United States stamps and buy what ? Valuable
stamps ? Not at all. They purchase stamps for
the most part priced from one to ten cents each,
whose value is the cost of handling.

Further he contends that the neglect of
other countries results in all fine and rare
foreign stamps being sent out of the country.

Seebecks dying out.

Although Seebecks have not been con-
demned by the S. S. S. S. everybody recog-
nises that they are really the most worthless
of all speculative issues, and the indirect
condemnation of the successful outcry against
speculative stamps is gradually putting an
end to their sale. The Boston correspondent
of Mekeels Weekly says : —

Seebecks are practically dead in Boston, as they
deserve to be. I know of only one dealer who is
buying any stock at all of this trash, and his stock
is light. Most of the dealers have a few on hand
and will sell when they are asked to do so, of course,
but they do not advertise them in any way or do
anything to push their sale.

CORRESPONDENCE.

More Transvaal Surcharges.

The epidemic of surcharges which broke
out in the Transvaal a year or so since does
not yet seem to have run its course. Any
way here is an ominous warning from the
South African Philatelist : —

Another value is out of stock in our Post Offices,
viz. the current 2^d. We find that out of a stock
of a million of these stamps, 900,000 were pressed
into service to represent the id. value in the shape
of the late id. on 2jd. green surcharge. Naturally
there is a run on the ^d. and 2d. stamps for Over-
sea postage, and unless the 2^d. arrive sodii we
should not be surprised to hear of more pro-
visionals. Surely it was a little impolitic to use
nine-tenths of a stock of a stamp so important for
the foreign mail, especially as there is now an
extra demand, the postage to any country in the
postal union being reduced to 23d.

Chilians : Used and Unused.

Mr. H. A. Slade, in an article in the Bazaar
Supplement on specialising, says the older
issues of Chili " generally speaking, are of
much greater value in a used condition."
And he instances the 1 centavo as being
worth 10s. each with the " cancelled " post-
mark, whereas unused copies can be pur-
chased for less than a quarter of that sum.
Those of us who specialise in Chili find the
very opposite to be the case. As a matter
of fact the 1 centavo is absolutely the only
stamp of the early issues which is rarer used
than unused. Indeed unused Chilians of
the first issues are getting very scarce, and
will soon rank amongst the high-priced South
Americans. Has Mr. Slade ever seen an
unused 10c. blente ?

CORRESPONDENCE.

Booming New Issues.

Sir, — I am glad to find that you have a
good word to say for the new movement for
confining collecting to postage stamps issued
since 1890.

It seems to me to be the only way out of
a growing difficulty. Every year wealthy
and greedy specialists are more and more
monopolising the best stamps of the old
issues. Indeed I cannot help calling it a
public scandal that those said wealthy
specialists should bulk up their collections
with whole pages of the same stamps. It
seems to be quite the fashion of the day in
their class to boast of the number of speci-
mens they can show of a great rarity. And
let us remember that it is not a far cry in this
drift of specialism from a page of a rare stamp
to the cornering of the lot. Some day for
instance, we shall find amongst the Fashion-
able Intelligence of the Philatelic Record
something of this sort : — Mr. Avery has
secured at last all the known copies of both
values of the " Post-office " Mauritius, and
that Mr. Castle has completed his collection
of the entire issue of 81 paras of Moldavia.
Yours growlingly,

Only a Ewe Lamb.

Sir, — You say in your Editorial Note that
the movement in favour of limiting collecting,
when ways and means have to be considered,
to issues since 1890 has much to commend it.

In my humble opinion, as one who has to
consider ways and means, the new move-
ment is the most arrant nonsense. Anyone
with half an eye can see that the suggestion
has no connection whatever with the pre-
tended limit in the matter of the ways and
means of the collector, but is simply and
solely a scheme on the part of a couple of
dealers for working up a brisk business in
new issues for their own profit. Anything
more obvious it would be impossible to con-
ceive, and I do hope that my fellow collectors
will not be such simpletons as blindly to fol-
low the piping of these philatelic Pied Pipers
of Ipswich and Salisbury.

The collector who wants to keep his col-
lecting within the range of limited ways and
means may find abundant scope for his
energies in the cheaper countries, such as
Chili, Denmark, France, Greece, Holland,
Servia, Luxemburg, Norway, Sweden, Para-
guay, and the newer English Colonies of
British Bechuanaland, British South Africa,
and Zululand, Niger Coast, etc., in which
there are very few, if any, stamps that can-

5§

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

not be had, either used or unused, at a
reasonable figure.

Further, I have no hesitation in saying
that a more ridiculously worthless invest-
ment could scarcely be found than the pro-
posed indiscriminate collection of new issues
since 1890. Of course, it is easy to bolster
up the case for the new movement by quoting
a few good new issues which have advanced
in price, but if you weigh against those few
the utter rubbish that constitutes the great
bulk of new issues the bottom is quickly
knocked out of the so-called new movement.

New movement, indeed ! New road for
soft Tommies ! — Yours truly, W. C. M.

Sir, — I have had a little experience in the
buying of new issues from new issue dealers,
with the result that I am case-hardened
against any further plunges into that slump.
As a rule the stamps were double-face in
price, and when there was a provisional there
was a sensational scramble, I thought my-
self mighty well treated to have got one off
" the one sheet we were so fortunate as to
secure out of the 50 issued." Of course, I
did not get that rare provisional at double-
face, I paid through the nose for it, to find,
after all, that it was only a common garden
variety of the new issue weed.

Time after time have I been had in that way.
But having paid for my experience I am not
going to be caught in this " Ninety " Com-
pany, Limited. Not if I know it !

I am now quietly collecting countries that
are off the beaten track of the wealthy speci-
alist, and I am content, for I find my coun-
tries most interesting. — Yours, etc.

W. Asher.

How to deal with Seebecks.

Sir, — I quite agree with Anti-Seebeck in
your last issue that it is about time the
S. S. S. S. did something in the direction of
condemning Seebecks. The Society was
established to endeavour to put an end to
the flood of unnecessary and speculative
issues, and Seebecks certainly come under
both those heads.

Surely the Society might go so far as to
veto the traffic in Seebeck remainders, and
get the dealer members of the Society to
pledge themselves not to deal in them, and
you Editor members should agree not to
chronicle or illustrate them.

Another Anti-Seebeck.

Natal. 3d. Blue, watermark Star.

Sir, — All the catalogues that I have yet seen
give the date of issue of the 3d. Blue, Natal,
watermark Star, perf. as i860. I findt how-
ever, that I have a specimen which was given
to me some time ago, on bit of original en-
velope, from which I copied the dates as fol-
lows : posted in Natal, Nov. 10th, 1859 ;
Ripon postmark, Dec. 26th, 1859. Have any
of vour readers any dated examples that will
corroborate this ? — Yours faithfully,

T. Kershaw Skipwith.
Headingley, Leeds, Feb. 28th, 1896.

AUCTION SALES.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

4 15

Messrs. BUHL & Co., Limited,
February ^rd, <\t/i a?id $th, 1896.

Barbados, id. on left half of 5/- rose..
Bavaria, 6k. brown, broken circle*...
Holivxr, first issue, 10c. green, penmark
Canada, iod. blue, large margins, but

slight tear*

Ceylon, 2 rupee 5octs.

Dominican Republic (1865), £r. green*

ditto, ir. straw*

Gt. Britain, 2^d. lilac-rose, plate 3, orb*

£1. purple-brown, 3 orbs* ...
Mauritius, Post Paid, 2d. medium ...

Britannia, 4d. black on green
Mexico, 3c. brown, town and control

numbers* ...
Natal, i/- green, curved, red surcharge,

fine, but slight tear

Nevis, 6d. grey on bluish*

Newfoundland, i/- carmine-red,

heavy postmark
St. Vincent, id. on half 6cl. blue

green, pair*

5/- lake, star* I

Straits Settlements, Selangor, 2c.

brown, CA. (S.G. 3)*

Sungei Ujoug, 2c. brown (S.G. 2)*...

Sweden, 2-4.sk. bco.*

Tobago, 6d. ochre, CC.

Tuscany, 9c. on white £3 4s. and
Virgin Islands, i/- single line*
Western Australia, 2d. brown-red,

roulette

February 20th and 2 1st, 1896.
Ceylon, 4d. rose, imperf.
British Guiana, 4c. "pearl in fan"

border

New Brunswick, i/- violet

Messrs. CHEVELEY & Co.,
January 2yd and 24///, 1896.
Nevis, i/- yellow-green, perf. 15, en-
graved,* fine but no gum...
New South Wales, Sydney view, 2d.,

plate 1

Portuguese Indies (1874), 201-. red,

small figures, rubbed

St. Christopher, 4c!. blue, C.A.* ...

St. Lucia, first issue, blue*

(1885), 6d. lilac*

1/- black and orange*

another, used

(1885), 1/- orange-brown*

another, used

St. Vincent, id.on half 6d. blue-green*

4d. dark blue, star*

5/- rose, small ink stain*

Tobago, 6d. ochre, CC*

6d. ochre, CA. ...

5 o

Mr. W. HADLOW, 7^/^7720^ and 21st, 1896.
Turks Islands, 2$d. on 1/- puce

(No. 4)* 3 15 o

2|d. on 1/- dull blue (No. 7)* ...800

Virgin Islands, i/- crimson, double

line* 440

February iy/i, 1896.

Great Britain, Telegraph 3/- slate,

plate 1, wink, crowns
Nevis, 4d. rose

Messrs. PUTTICK & SIMPSON,
January 2%th and 29th, 1896.

Bolivar (1863), 10c. green, pair* ... 11 ]

Bremen, 7gr. yellow, imperf. ... ... 31

British Colombia, 5c. rose, imperf.... 13

British Guiana, first issue, 8c. green,

cut round, on entire ... ... 15

(1862), 2c. yellow (No. 21), roulettes

2§ sides ... 7

Canada, 6d. purple-black, perf.* ... 10

7|d. green* 14

iod. blue, thin paper, block of 3, one

with small hole* 15

a single, thick paper* 5

Ceylon, 4d. rose, imperf.

2 rupees 50 cts. perf. 12? X 14*
Confederate States, Tellico Plains,

pair 5c. and 10c* ...
Great Britain, iod. brown, octagon*
Hanover, iogr. green*
Lagos, 2/6 brown*

5/- blue*

Mauritius, Post Paid, id. on white,
early, on piece ... 10

ditto, a pair, early ditto ... ... 25

ditto, a vert, pair, early ditto

,£19. 10s. and 20

ditto, 2d. medium, on pieces

£3, £4 and

ditto, ditto, superb ...

Britannia, \<\. on green, strip of 3...

Naples, ^t. cross, on entire

New Brunswick, i/- mauve, fine, but

cut close ...

New Zealand, id. red on bluish
Nova Scotia, id. brown, strip of 3*
Queensland, id. carmine, imperf., 2

on one piece

St. Christopher, 6d. olive, with con-
trol number*

St. Lucia, 6d. lilac, CA.*

1/- orange, CA.*

St. Vincent, id. black on 6d. yellow-
green

4d. dark blue, star*

4d. on 1/- vermilion ...

i/- rose, large perf.*

Spain (1850), 10 reales, green
Switzerland, Basle, 2\x., on entire...

Tobago, 6d. ochre, CC.

Tuscany, 6ocr. red, slightly rubbed ...
United States (1856), 90c. blue* ...

ditto, 90c, with grill*

Virgin Islands, i/-crimson, singleline*
Wurtemburg, 70k. violet*

70k. rose-lilac* ...

February ijt/i and iSt/i, 1 896.
Great Britain, 2/- red-brown

India, Service Prov., 4a

Nova Scotia, i/-

1 1

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Nevis, i/- green*
ditto, 6d. green*
St. Lucia, 4d. blue* ...
Tobago, 6d. ochre, CC.
Trinidad, id. blue, litho.

Messrs. VENTOM, BULL & COOPER,
January 2,0th and 31^, 1896.

Ceylon, 8d. brown, imperf.

India, 8a, Service ... £8 and

LabuAN, 12c. carmine, CA" sideways*
Mauritius, Post Paid, 2d. deep blue,
earliest, fine margins, penmark ...
Large Fillet, 2d. blue, fine margins..
Naples, ft., arms, slight damage, on

entire with a common

^t. cross, £3 8s. ; on entire

Natal, first issue, 1 /- buff

Newfoundland, i/- orange, fine mar-
gins, bottom margin torn...
1/- cai'mine, fine but cracked in corner
New South Wales, Laureated, 3d.
green, wmk. 2

5d. green, imperf.

New Zealand, 6d. brown, thick paper,

serrated

Parma, 5c. yellow*

Servia, first issue, 2p. green on rose

(error), fine but slightly cut* ...

Tasmania, id. dull carmine, star* ...

Tuscany, 2 soldi brick-red

Victoria, iod. grey*

5/- blue on yellow

10
ER

February nth and I2t/i, 1896

Lubeck, 2^sch. brown (error)
Great Britain, V.R.* no gum
, ditto, 9d. brown, hair line ...

ditto, id. brown-lilac, orbs ...
Naples, |- tornese blue cross*
British Guiana (1851), ic. black ...
Canada, 7^d. green*

ditto, iod. blue*

ditto, 6d. purple-black*

Newfoundland, 4d. carmine-red ...

United States (1857), 90c. blue* ...

New South Wales, Sydney View,

plate II, 2d. deep blue, horizontal

pair ...

Victoria, 5/- blue on yellow

Western Australia, first issue, 2d.
brown on red, roul.*

ditto, first issue, 6d. bronze, roul.*...

ditto, first issue, 1/- brown, roul.* ...

Barbados, id. on half 5/-

Montserrat, 4d. blue, CA., torn ...

Nevis, 4d. orange, perf. 15

St. Lucia, i/- black and orange*

ditto (1885), 6d. lilac*

ditto, I /- red brown

St. Vincent, id. on half 6d. £3 ios.and

ditto, 4d. on 1/- vermilion ...
Virgin Islands. 6d. rose, perf. 15 ...

ditto, 1/- crimson, single line border. 8

i.S

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Editorial Communications.

Articles of special interest will be paid for.
MS. dealing with particular points in an exhaus-
tive manner will be most welcome. As we wish
to arrange matter in advance, we shall be glad
to hear from Specialists who are open to write
up their special countries.

All communications on Editorial matters should
be addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J.
Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Let-
ters enclosing valuables should be registered.

Subscriptions.

Replies to Queries.

F. J. D. — All reprints with forged postmarks.
H. C, A. — Your 3d. Sydney is genuine ; value
about 25/-. The i|d. English are all plate 1.

Our Advertisement Rates. — Price per Insertion, net.

Single.

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S?7iall Advertisements — 5/- per inch, in double column, prepaid.

Accounts for a series payable quarterly. Single insertion payable in advance.

Letters, Enquiries, and Remittances connected with the Advertisement pages should be addressed
to Mr. E. J. Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Advertisements must be received not later
than the 15th of the month for publication in the next issue.

Dry den Press : J. Davy and Sons, 137, Long Acre% London.

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News,

MARCH, 1896.

Qditorial J^des.

TILL they come— subscriptions galore and kindly congratulations
in abundance, with, here and there, a flavour of criticism.
The said criticism is mostly devoted to our cover. Our
first cover took such fast hold on the affections of some of
our friends that they have somewhat rigorously resented the
change to our second, and we issue our third with fear and
trembling. Others, again, clamoured for a change from the pulpy, easily
soiled first cover. Our mission, of course, is to please all and sundry.
And we, therefore, hope that the still further expense incurred in the excellent
cover now adopted will gain for us immediate admission to the undying
affections of both parties. It must be remembered, so far as the present
helmsman is concerned, that though the change may have been long under
consideration, he had precious little time to settle his plans, hence the
experimental stages through which we have passed. Now, having sown our
wild oats, we will endeavour to settle down to the work of providing a
generous philatelic bill of fare.

Mr. J. R. F. Turner, of Oxford, in some " West Indian Notes "
Geo^aphy, which he has been contributing to the Bazaar Philatelists' Supple-
ment, included the Falkland Islands in the West Indian group.
Philatelists cleaned up their spectacles and got upon their hind legs for a
closer look. There was no mistake about it : this learned collector, hailing
from classic Oxford, had got rocky on his geography. So a collector
approached the Editor for an explanation, and Mr. Turner replies to his
questioner as follows : —

It is quite obvious that the writer caunot be a specialist in West Indians. Treated geographi-
cally, the Falkland Islands undoubtedly do not come within the sphere of the West Indies ; but
treated philatellically, they have always, as far as my recolleclion carries me, been placed, for the
sake of convenience, in the West Indian group. In support of this statement I need only add
that the London Society's exhaustive work on the stamps of the West Indies includes those of the
Falkland Isles. If the writer who calls my remarks into question is not a philatellist I can
readily understand the error into which he has fallen. If, on the other hand, he poses as a
philatelist, it is clear that his philatelic knowledge must be of a limited character.

62 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

This reply is a bit rough. To tell a man that his education has been
sadly neglected because he does not recognise the fact that an island may,
geographically, belong to one continent, and philatelically, to quite another,
and, further, to quote a published work of the Philatelic Society of London in
support of such a curious assertion, is, to say the least, most refreshing. Mr.
Turner says the London Society has included the Falkland Islands in its West
Indian book. It has done nothing of the sort. If Mr. Turner will refer to
the work in question, as he should have done before he wrote such a ridiculous
reply to his questioner, he will see that the title is thus set forth — the italics
are ours : — " The Postage Stamps, Envelopes, Wrappers, Postcards, and
Telegraph Stamps of the British Colonies in the West Indies, together with
British Honduras and the Colonies of South America." Popularly, it is true, the
work is known as the " West Indian book," but it is more than that, as clearly
explained in the title. It affords, in fact, no excuse for Mr. Turner's classification
of the Falkland Islands as " the least interesting of the entire West Indian
group."

w c .. A writer, sisrninar himself " N. S. W. & Crown," in the

New South ' o ° '

Wales Australian Philatelist protests strongly against the manner in

o.s. which we have seen fit in this country to condemn the O.S.

epnius. cancelled reprints. Mr. Castle is told that he is "very intem-

perate" in styling the business a " barefaced swindle," and, of course, Major
Evans ought to know better than to regard such an honest transaction as a
piece of " official rascality."

In our estimation those terms are the mildest which could be used to fairly
represent the opinions of collectors in this country. It is, therefore, really
amusing to learn now, on the authority of " N. S. W. & Crown," that the
transaction was " a perfectly honest endeavour to gratify the expressed wishes of
a very large section of the stamp collecting community." This extraordinary
statement is followed up by an equally extraordinary editorial, in which the
manufacture and sale of the cancelled reprints is justified on the curious ground
that people " have a perfect right to do what they will with their own
property." On such a dictum we should be justified in cleaning any used
stamps we may possess and selling them as unused specimens.

Some good souls have imagined that because we have had the
New°issues. hardihood to condemn some of the tactics adopted in the
booming of new issues, that we are, therefore, opposed to the
collection of new issues. One writer in Pearson's Weekly suggests that the
leading Philatelic journals are so much in the hands of dealers in the older
issues that they naturally oppose the new. Such a statement is altogether
uncalled for, and is obviously made by one who is utterly unacquainted with
the facts. The Monthly Journal is published by, the firm of Stanley
Gibbons, Ltd., and Major Evans, as the Editor, has more than once stated
that he has an entirely free hand. Again, the editorship of the Record has
been traditionally untrammelled, so much so that the proprietors do not even
trouble themselves to see the proofs. The London Philatelist, it is true, is
edited by a devotee to the older issues, but it is the official organ of the
Philatelic Society of London, and, therefore, cannot be said to represent
dealers in old issues.

But let us define our own position. We have said that we are vigorously
opposed to the booming of rubbish, but we are quite as vigorously opposed
to the idiotic craze for condemning new issues as a whole, because, forsooth,
a few weeds creep in here and there. New issues, so long as they are the
honest outcome of genuine postal needs, by the very virtue of their novelty,

EDITORIAL NOTES. 63

are intensely interesting. That the antique should prefer the antique is
natural enough, but if the younger generation of collectors is to be encouraged
we must look to new issues to keep up their interest.

Some people seem to think that the S.S.S.S. was established to make a
clean sweep of all such new issues. It was established to do nothing of the
sort. As a matter of fact, it was started in the interest of new issues. Its
object is to put an end to speculative issues, in other words to compel all
stamp-issuing countries to confine their attentions to genuine postal needs.
And, with this one reservation of unrelenting opposition to speculative stamps,
we shall do our best to generate and increase the interest which is taken in
current issues. The continual harping on record prices for great rarities, of
towering prices for great collections, of hair-splitting minor varieties, the
publication of catalogues exclusively in the interest of the specialist, and the
utter neglect of young collectors, are working incalculable harm to stamp
collecting. So much so that we hail with infinite satisfaction this new
movement in favour of current issues. If it be kept free from the ineffable
rubbish that now and again will sneak into the market, it cannot fail to deepen
the hold of our hobby on the rising generation.

What are we to do with the Commemorative Stamp ? The
The S.S.S.S. shows a disposition to condemn all commemorative

°mistamp? 1VC stamps, and such a condemnation would probably err, if it
erred at all, in the right direction. Unfortunately there are
obstacles in this rough and ready method of dealing with these parasites. It
is conceivable that a commemorative issue may be an honest one, and that it
may be made a permanent issue. In such a case it would be unwise, and
probably futile, to condemn it. Some members of the Postal Union have
shown a very laudable disposition to get the next Congress to place its ban on
all commemorative stamps, and to bar them from circulation between
countries in the Postal Union. If such a bar were placed on the issue of
commemorative stamps the course of the philatelist would be as clear as
noonday. At present the S.S.S.S. is perfectly justified in condemning all
stamps limited either in quantity or in the duration of their issue. But it is
difficult to place an equal condemnation upon stamps placed on general and
unrestricted sale, even though they be heralded as commemorative. The
problem needs careful consideration, in order to secure a solution which shall
command respect and support. It is one thing to condemn an issue ; it is
quite another thing to give effect to that condemnation.

Lond. Phil. Soc. Commencing with the 1st of April — omnious date — the

increased entrance fee for membership in the Philatelic Society of

Entrance Fee. London will be increased from one guinea to two guineas.
The premier Society has heavy calls upon its exchequer, and the extra funds
thus provided will no doubt be a welcome addition to its available revenue.
The extra imposition, it is believed, will be no bar to the infusion of new
blood, without which most Societies have a tendency to lapse into a more or
less moribund condition. The class of members regarded as " desirable " by
the Philatelic elite will no doubt prefer to pay two guineas.

The Society's measure of a collector's suitability for election is that of a
first-class London club, and, inasmuch as most first London clubs insist upon
an entrance fee of from five to twenty guineas, the new entrance fee to the
salon ot the Philatelic Society of London must, we suppose, be regarded as
being cheap at the price. Another gain which may be fairly credited to a
substantial entrance fee is the probability that members will be very careful,

64 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

by the regular payment of their subscriptions, to steer clear of the risk of
having to pay that entrance fee a second time for re-instatement.

In its second circular, dated 25th July, 1895, tne Society for
ciipperton the Suppression of Speculative Stamps set its ban upon labels
Rubbish. bearing the name of Ciipperton Island. The reference was as
follows : —

6, Clipperton Island. A set of stamps bearing this name, has lately been distributed
(anonymously) among the Lon Ion dealers ; the specimens are obliterated by a hand stamp, with
the name of a firm in San Francisco. Ciipperton is off the western coast, and is a part of the
United States ; so that even if these stamps are not absolutely illegal and bogus, they are at any
rate either speculative or unnecessary, or both. Under these circumstances, collectors and dealers
are warned to beware of them.

Amongst the journals which joined in the exposure of this rubbish was
the American Journal of Philately, the leading American Philatelic Journal.
Subsequently the Scott Stamp & Coin Co., in their Catalogue listed this
rubbish under the head of "' Fraudulent Issues." Upon this they received the
following letter which was addressed to dealers in San Francisco, who were
selling their catalogue : —

San Francisco, January 14</>, 1890.

Bear Sirs : My attention has been called to your Standard Postage Catalogue, 56th edition, in
which you refer on page 617 to Ciipperton Island Stamps under "fraudulent issues." Since my
name is connected with these stamps, I strongly protest against this expression !

Under date of April 4th 1895, at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Oceanic
Phosphate Company, the legal owners of Ciipperton Island and its Guano deposits, situated about
110° W 10° N. in the Pacific. I was authorised to issue a set of stamps, illustrating features
of Ciipperton Island. These stamps were intended for local use between Ciipperton Island and
San Francisco, and as an advertisement for the products of Ciipperton Island only. Since I do
not offer, and never did offer, these stamps for sale to stamp collectors or dealers, 1 fail to see with
what authority you claim "fraud."

I request you to withdraw the Ciipperton Island stamps from the space t; Fraudulent Issiies,''
or otherwise bear the consequences.

Very respectfully, "W. Frese.

In this letter it will be noted that Mr. W. Frese " states that he does not
offer, and never did offer, these stamps for sale to stamp collectors or stamp
dealers." Here he has over-reached himself, for Messrs. Whitfield
King & Co. received from Messrs. Frese & Co. a letter distinctly offering
unused sets at face value, and furthermore stating that a limited number
of sets of cancelled stamps could be supplied at a rebate of 25 per cent, on
face value. Apparently the impudence of these San Francisco speculators
knows no limit.

A L SA CE-L ORRAINE. 65

[Read before the Manchester Philatelic Society.']
By G. B. DUERST.

(Continued from page 40.)

HE manner of manufacture of these stamps is very interesting, and
deserves to be fully explained, especially as it contains the key
for the different types, which can be found by examining the
relative positions of the figures and letters.

To begin with, the stamps were required very urgently, a com-
petition for a design was therefore out of the question. Material
that was handy had to do duty, and yet that material had to be of such a nature
as to render imitation difficult. The simpler the design the quicker the result,
yet so intricate and difficult as to baffle the imitator. In order to attain the latter
object, it was decided to make use of the same engraved plate that had done
service in providing the stamps of the North German Confederation with the
burele network. This network was printed in acetate of lead, and is therefore
invisible, but it can be made visible by chemical means. On the Alsace-
Lorraine stamps this network, however, was printed in colours, according to
the different values, and was considered a sufficient guarantee to frustrate the
designs of any forger. It speaks well for the printers, that in spite of the
great hurry, no stamps have been found printed on the wrong network, seeing
that the network was printed first and the design by a second operation ; nor
have any been found with the network printed on one side, and the design on
the other This network finishes with the stamps at the top and the bottom
of the sheet. At the sides, however, it overlaps the stamps by about 5 mm.
The margin on the left and the right of the sheets is therefore not quite
white.

The design was set up by hand in type letters, figures, and thick lines,
150 times, to arrive at the size of the sheets, which contain 150 stamps in 15
rows of 10 stamps. The letters are not of an uniform size, some are a trifle
shorter, others longer ; this difference is hardly perceptible to the naked eye,
but when thrown on the screen and magnified about 2500 times, it can be very
easily discerned. What, however, can be seen with the eye is the difference
in the finishing strokes of the "E's and T's" — some end sharp and fine, others
are shorter and blunt. Slight differences exist also in the figures ; for instance,
the curve of the " 5 " ends as a rule in a direct line with the upper downstroke,
but sometimes there is a slight deviation, and continuation lines would
intersect each other instead of running into one another. The surrounding
lines are if mm. in width, but of varying lengths, as they do not meet in the
corners. On one side of the stamp they form complete corners, on the other
side there are slight spaces at top or bottom showing that the right hand
border must have been shorter than the one on the left hand side.

In addition to all these slight differences it is quite possible that several
type-setters were employed to set up one plate. Of course this was done to
expedite matters, but did not at all contribute to the uniformity of the stamps.
Considering the difficulty one type-setter has of spacing 150 times exactly
alike, i.e. leaving always exactly the same distance between the borders and the
first and last letters, how much more so would it be with several type-setters.

Then also the slightest difference in the width of these low pieces, as they
are called, would throw the commencement of a word more to the left or to the

66 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

right, and in consequence the relative position of the letters and the figures
would be altered. Thus, to give an illustration, take the 20 centimes value :
supposing the figures " 20 " being in two stamps in the identical space, and
the beginning of the " 2 " to be in one stamp over the " C " of the word
centimes, the slightest deviation in the width of the low pieces, used to fill in
the space between the border and the " C " would bring the " C " nearer the
border, and in consequence as the " E " would follow the "C" closely up, the
beginning of the " 2 " would be over the " E " and not over the " C." The
second down stroke of the " 1 " in " 10" and the " O " in " POSTES " also
explains fully my meaning. In this value there are three very distinct
varieties. In the first, a continuation of the second downstroke of the " 1 "
would run through the centre of the " O " ; in the second, through the right
of the "O"; and in the third, between the " O " and the " S." Furthermore,
the letters do not seem to be of uniform width, as we find considerable
variations in the length of the words. Thus, the word " POSTES " varies
from ill to 12J mm. in length. The distance of the " P" from the margin
varies from 3 to 31 mm., the distance of the " C " in centimes, from the border, is
from if to2| mm. In consequence of this the " S" at the end of " POSTES "
and of " CENTIMES " varies also. This is caused by not having used low
pieces of a uniform width. All the letters are not always on the same line —
some seem to have dropped. In fact, I should not be surprised if every
stamp on the sheet were different.

Having explained the mode of making the plates, I will describe the
process of printing. The engraved plate for the network was ready for
printing. The type-set matter was stereotyped, i.e., a cast was taken
in plaster of Paris, this cast was then filled with type-metal, and this, when set,
could be used for printing ; of course, such plates could not last long, and in
order to make them more durable, they were electrotyped, i.e., an uniform
layer of copper is electrically deposited on the soft type-metal. This process
can now be done in about 6 hours, but at the time we speak of, it took about
70 hours. Sometimes, the stamps were printed with the type-metal plates,
and such stamps can be distinguished by the thicker printing; such plates did
not, however, last long, and new ones had to be prepared, which, of course,
show all the differences. There is no doubt that even a few new plates were
set up, as we find some curious letters in later printings, which do not exist
in the early issues.

The network was first printed with the engraved plate, the design was
afterwards printed in a second operation. If the sheets provided with the
network were put into the printing machine for the second operation the
wrong way up, the design would be on reversed net. No attention seems to
have been given to this, as the official records do not mention the two kinds
at all. The same indifference is observable in the stamps of the North
German Confederation, where the burele pattern or network is very often
found reversed, though, being invisible, has escaped the keen eye of the
collector.

The foregoing explanation, concerning the printing, shows clearly that
collectors can find considerable numbers of varieties, but, at the same time, I
should advise them not to collect more than three principal varieties for each
value. These are easily detected, and will repay anyone for the trouble of
looking for them. Furthermore, I consider stamps with letters that have
dropped down collectable, being in fact a clear proof of their manner of
manufacture.

On the evening of January 28th, 1871, after the capitulation of all the forts
round Paris, an armistice was concluded for three weeks, which was prolonged
until February 24th, noon, and on the 26th of this month the preliminaries of
peace were signed. These events caused the following notices to be published
in the Official Gazette :

ALSA CE- L ORRAINE,

Correspondence with Paris.

Berlin-, January 2>\st. 1871.

Ordinary open letters for Paris will be received from this date at the same rates that
were in force before the war.

Closed letters will not be forwarded.

On the 6th of February, 1871, we find the additional notice : —

According to Section 15 of the Armistice of Jan. 28th, only open and not registered
letters can be forwarded to Paris.

On the 14th February, 1871, however, we find the following : —

To and from Paris ordinary closed letters will be forwarded at the same rates that
were in force before the outbreak of hostilities. Registered letters will not yet be
forwarded.

The next day, however, February 15th, 1871, brought the notice, that
registered letters, as well as letters with declaration of value, can now be sent
to Paris at the old rates, i.e., the rates in force between Prussia and France
before the outbreak of the war.

At last, on March 24th, 1871, we come to the final decree, as follows : —

In consequence of an agreement with the Postal Administration of France, all the
post-offices on French soil that have been worked by the German Postal Administration
will be handed over to the French Postal Administration — of course with the exception
of the offices in the ceded provinces. All correspondence has in consequence to be franked
according to rates in force before the outbreak of the war.

This decree finally disposes of the use of these stamps on French soil.
In the ceded provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, however, with the addition
of the following places : Belfort, Giromagny, Welsch Kappeln, Cirey, and
Moncel-sur-Seille, which five places were returned to France before July, the
stamps under discussion were in use until the 31st of December, 1871.

It is a very curious fact that so few stamps can be found with the oblitera-
tion, 1870. To enable me to compile this paper I have looked through a
considerable quantity, and was highly astonished at the small proportion of
1870 obliterations.

Besides this Occupation Postal Service for the inhabitants, the Army, or
rather every division, had its accompaniment of Military postal officials, com-
monly known under the name of Fieldpost service. This service forwarded
all letters, parcels, newspapers, &c, from the soldiers free of charge, and
according to the official figures given for a short period, must have done a
great deal of work, as these figures amount to over 400,000 missives per day.
We must also not forget that this service was carried on under great difficulties ;
the final destination of letters, &c, could very often only be reached by means
of carts or on horse-back through the centre of a hostile population.

This Fieldpost service remained in use for the German troops, while they
still held possession of French territory, until each succeeding instalment of
the war indemnity freed province after province, and when the last German
soldier left the French soil, this service ceased.

OBLITERATIONS.
These can be divided into four classes as follows : —

I. Obliterated with round dies, bearing the name of the town from whence
they are despatched —

(a) In Alsace-Lorraine with French names.

W » „ „ ,, German „

II. Obliterated with the French dies (dots surrounding the number of the
post office).

III. Obliterated with field-post dies.
Iv- „ ,, railway „

68 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Besides these, some have been found obliterated with pen and ink, or
with blue pencil, but these are more or less accidental.

/. Stamps obliterated with round dies bearing the name of the town.

As soon as the German troops occupied a town or village of any size, the
German postal administration took possession of the post office for the
despatch of all postal matter. The French dies bearing the name of the town
in French, were, if possible, altered to the German style in all those territories,
which were considered as having to be ceded to Germany at the end of the
war. If no French dies were found, new dies were ordered in the style of
those in vogue in the postal administration of the North German Confedera-
tion, and if the French die could not be altered a new one was prepared, in
the meantime, however, the French dies were used.
Thus we find : —

Nancy and Nanzig.

Sarrebourg and Saarburg.

Strasbourg and Strassburg im Elsass.

Mulhouse and Mulhausen ,, ,, &c.

Of course the obliteration with French spelling is considerably rarer than
the one with the German spelling, being in most cases only used for a short
time.

In all the occupied territories of France outside Alsace-Lorraine, however,
the French obliteration dies with the name of the town were used. The
obliteration, consisting of the number of the post office, surrounded by dots,
was forbidden to be used, as such a system of numbering was not in force in
the North German Confederation.

A notable instance of German dies being used in a French town is Rouen,
but no doubt the French dies were worn out, and the new ones were made to
the German pattern.

II. Stamps obliterated with the French dot die ivith number of post office in centre.

Though the use of this cancellation was forbidden by the German
authorities, stamps must have been obliterated with them, as they are found.

III. Stamps obliterated with fieldpost dies.

All letters from soldiers were forwarded free of charge, therefore no stamps
appear on such letters, but a great quantity of private letters were handed by
the smaller post offices to the fieldpost to be forwarded to the next larger post
office. Such letters were obliterated by the postal officials of the fieldpost
service with their own dies. Each army had separate dies with the name of
the division or the army inscribed ; the dies were mostly round, but some-
times oblong. The Bavarian armies' dies were modelled on their own home
dies — the well known half circle.

IV. Stamps obliterated with railway dies.

All letters posted at railway stations were, as is usual in Germany,
obliterated with special dies, consisting of an oblong containing the words :
Eisenbalm Postbureau (railway post office) underneath, which was the route the
train was going, for instance, Frankfurt a/M — Nanzig, and the date and time of
posting.

Great care must be observed by all collectors taking an interest in these
obliterations, especially in the rarer kinds like stamps used and obliterated in
towns that were not ceded to Germany. To be genuine they must always
have a date before the 24th of March, 1871.

ALSA CE-L ORRAINE. 69

FORGERIES.

The most common of these forgeries are the so-called official reprints,
which a certain Mr. Wiering, of Hamburg, got printed by a special permit of
the German Postmaster-General in 1885. The original engraved plate was
used again for the network, which is the reason of this net being so well
executed. The design, however, had to be re -set up, and the letters, especially
in the word " POSTES," are much more even in length and width than in
the originals. The distance of the "P" in "Postes," from the margin, is
only 2| m.m., the " M " in " CENTIMES " is too large, and the perforation,
vertically, is too small, nearly \\\. The colours are good, but their whole
appearance is too fresh and clear.

In 1893, another forgery was announced, and was said to come from
Brussels. The reversed net and the dull colours are well imitated, but the
word " POSTES" measures 13 m.m. in length, and the perforation is 13^ all
round, instead of 13^- x 14.

A very good forgery was also made in Paris. The net and the design look
well, and are apt to deceive collectors at a first glance, but here also the
perforated 13^ all round condemns them. This forgery is also found

obliterated.

By H. A. SLADE.

OST collectors are familiar with the working of Exchange Clubs —
the contribution of sheets of stamps priced on the basis of a
specified catalogue, the circulation of packets to members in
order that they may take what stamps they please, and the settle-
ment of outstanding balances at stated periods.

These are the main features of the majority of Clubs, and
writing as a Secretary of several years' experience, I venture to submit
some remarks on the subject.

Let us consider the essentials of a model Club : — The integrity of its
members, an impartial and painstaking secretary, a high average of moderately-
priced sheets, satisfactory sales, speedy circulation of packets, and prompt
return of sheets and squaring-up of accounts. This combination of advantages,
it is evident, must commend itself to all philatelists having duplicates to
dispose of, or wishing to fill up blanks in the album at a reasonable cost.
Unfortunately, but inevitably, this Arcadia does not always exist. There is
the worrying member, who queries everything ; the careless member, who
omits to initial or enter his takings, and who fails to notify to the secretary the
despatch of packets ; the untidy member, who leaves the sheets in dire con-
fusion, and who makes formidable blotches with his pen or name-stamp.
These, and others, have to be dealt with by the secretary in his discretion.
He should, however, never lose sight of the fact that a soft answer turneth
away wrath, and that it is an impossible task to endeavour to give satisfaction to
everybody. A more serious matter is that black sheep have gained entrance
into Clubs in spite of precautions and references, and have sowed trouble and
distrust broadcast, as many a secretary can bear witness. But the changing of
stamps, tardiness of payments, and other reprehensible practices indulged in by
these gentry, have been minimised of late, principally owing to the exertions
ot the Stamp Exchange Protection Society. This body has done and is doing
much useful work, which I do not think has been sufficientlv recognised by

70 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

the general body of collectors. Searching enquiries are made, black lists are
drawn up, secretaries are warned against undesirable members, and Clubs of
doubtful antecedents are not recommended.

As members placed first on the list enjoy the privilege of snapping up the
bargains and the best specimens, priority is much coveted, and the question
arises how should these positions be allotted ? If the order of places be
determined by the value of sheets, it is obvious that long purses and the
possession of rare duplicates will always carry the day, and that the modest
beginner will be permanently relegated to the rear. This creates a certain
amount of dissatisfaction and lack of interest in the Club, or engenders the
temptation to overprice contributions in order to get a higher place. Bal-
lotting for the first and second places, and arranging an ascending scale for
the others, seems open to little objection. In the " Suburban," my procedure
has been to make up four packets every month — two A's containing sheets
valued at not less than £$ each, and two B's with sheets under that amount.
The A's, on their return, are circulated among contributors to the B's who
have notified their wish to see them. This involves a longer period before
sheets can be returned to their owners, but gives every member an opportunity
of seeing good selections.

With regard to the objections raised in some quarters against the inclusion
of dealers as members, much may be said on both sides. Doubtless the pro-
fessional eye is swift to light on anything worth taking ; but this applies also
in little less degree to the great majority of members, amateur or otherwise.
My experience teaches that a short course of Exchange Clubs produces a
fairly accurate knowledge of the market quotations of stamps, and that
half catalogue prices for fair copies (especially in the case of the rarer
varieties) are seldom met with. Were it not so, there would be no lack of
buyers indeed, but few sales would be effected, as nothing but rubbish would
be contributed. For this reason it is necessary to allow discretionary powers
as regards prices. It seems difficult to draw a hard and fast line between
those who do and those who do not purchase stamps for profit, for many
dealers are ardent specialists who take pride in their collections, while few
amateurs disdain to turn over the nimble sixpence when a favourable deal
presents itself. Besides, one of the advantages claimed for the collection
of stamps is that — from a mercenary point of view — it is a good investment,
and easy of realisation. This, to some extent, explains the comparative failure
of Clubs that are conducted on lines of exchange pure and simple — no cash
settlements being allowed. The proposal for putting dealers last on the list
seems so partial a measure that it would properly meet with strong opposition.
Either exclude the trading element in toto, or accord the privileges enjoyed by
the other members. They (the dealers) generally contribute good sheets, and
were their stamps not priced moderately, few would be taken, whereas the
opposite more often prevails.

As the popularity of a Club greatly depends on the value of its packets
(some now total well over ^iooo nett, and are continually increasing) it seems
very difficult to confine membership solely to bond fide non-dealing amateurs.
Surely their duplicates do not often run into Sydney views, Post Paid Mauritius,
and the like ? They must buy loose stamps or collections somewhere, and it
is not likely they would offer them on Club sheets at a loss.

Allowing for Sunday as a dies non, and for unavoidable delays in circulation,
a packet of ordinary size, submitted to about forty members, should not take
longer than three months in going its rounds. If possible, it is advisable that
accounts be adjusted monthly rather than quarterly, though the Secretary,
whose spare time is limited, will find this arrangement a severe tax on his
leisure. Fines for delay of packets, non-payment of balances, &c, should be
rigidly enforced, otherwise the regulations will tend to fall into disuse, and the
Club will practically be useless.

THE NEW FRENCH STAMP.

^he J^qxd firench £tairvp.

PINIONS will probably differ widely as to the artistic merit of
M. Grasset's design for the new French Postage Stamp, which is said
to have found favour with the authorities. We give an enlarged
sketch of the design, and it is only fair to say that we should wait for
the actual stamp itself before we say aye or nay to the new claimant
for philatelic favour. We hope it will improve upon acquaintance
in postage stamp form. It is certainly strikingly novel. M. Grasset, the well-
known artist was commissioned by the Minister of Commerce to send in a
sample drawing, and our sketch is said to be the result of eight months

of ardent toil during
which the great designer

twenty

recast his work
times over.

The design is intended
to represent France bare-
headed, crowned with
laurels, leaning with one
hand on a sheathed
sword, and with the other
holding the olive branch
of Peace. In the back-
ground are lie tors' fasces,
crowned with the Cap
of Liberty and encircled
with a laurel wreath. It
is to be in three tints :
one dark, for line and
ground ; then a half tint
to colour and strengthen
certain parts of the com-
position, and lastly, in
reserve, the white of the
paper itself, which will
light up the hands
features and give
and animation to
whole.
The Echo de la Timbrologie says—" In two printings the little engraving will
be made perfect ; one printing for the strong tint, the other for the pale. The
hair which twines and gleams on the proud young head conceived by the
master, is in the half-tint, which also plays on the lamellated cuirass and
in the folds of the covering robe ; it also serves to soften into the background
the governmental emblems, which must needs be present but are not to be
emphasized. In spite of the care given to the engraving and the expense of the
machines and the double printing, the new stamps will cost only 24 centimes
the thousand, while abroad, in the countries where recess- engraving is
employed, the price is at least 50 to 75 centimes a thousand. Our stamp will
not be inferior to any other, for it is a work of art, freshly inspired and executed,
noble in character, and, furthermore, a true engraving, the engraving of
an artist.

and
life
the

72 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

College ^Messenger Stamps.

By H. D. Catling, B.A.

A paper read before the Cambridge University Philatelic Society.

HE system of college messenger stamps originated in 1871, when
the Dean of Jesus College received permission from the Post-
master-General to make use of a form of private local letter trans-
mission, which was not contrary to law. In 1879, the Bursar of
Clare College obtained the sanction of the authorities to a more
extended service, which being found a convenient and rapid
method of conveying local messages, was presently adopted by the remaining
colleges of the University. It was not, however, until the end of the
year 1882 that the messenger stamp made its appearance, the first college
in Cambridge to adopt this form of prepayment for transmission of letters
and parcels being Selwyn. The idea was copied from Keble College,
Oxford, where stamps had been in use since 1871. This use of stamps did
not appear to have been favourably received by the colleges in general, as
Queen's, which adopted them at the end of November, 1883, and St. John's
about the middle of January, 1884, were alone found imitating the example
set by Selwyn. The real explanation for the non-adoption of stamps by other
colleges was most probably to be found in the fact that one messenger did
duty for several colleges — notably in the examples of Caius, Clare, King's,
and Trinity Hall, which employed a single servant for the duty, as did also
Emmanuel, Sidney, and Christ's colleges — in which cases it would have been
a matter of difficulty, if not of impossibility, to introduce a stamp sufficiently
representative to satisfy everybody, while the arms or crest of a single college
belonging to the group would have incorrectly denoted its usage. It might be
thought that so large a college as Trinity would have adopted a stamp of its
own. The reason it did not do so was because a fee was charged for
attendance at this college, which included the services of a messenger.
Mr. Catling proceeded to describe the various college stamps, beginning with
that of Selwyn in 1882. Of these there were six different examples. The
printing was not always in the same colour, and the paper was not of uniform
thickness or quality, thus showing that the printers did not take the care
necessary in the case of Government issues. Those of Queen's were by far
the scarcest of the college stamps, and there were no varieties of these
that he had discovered. There were, however, several varieties in the stamps
of St. John's, and there were also a number of forgeries of the stamps of this
college. How these might be detected was minutely explained. Eventually
the Post-office authorities interfered for the suppression of the system, which
they claimed to be illegal, and a considerable amount of correspondence took
place on the subject. The postal authorities pointed out that what was being
done was not a casual delivery, but a systematic private post. The first
communication from the Postmaster-General was received by the Master of
Selwyn on November 14, 1885, and after prolonging the controversy to the
end of the October term of 1886, the authorities abandoned the system, and
no more stamps were issued. To compensate for the suppression of the
messenger service, the Postmaster-General offered to increase the number of
Post-office deliveries, but it was pointed out that his proposed additional
service would not be adequate compensation. — From the Cambridge
Independent Press.

UNITED STATES RECENT ISSUES.

XL'S9 Official Notices.

->=JK-

Since July 1st, 1894, when the Bureau of Engraving and Printing assumed the
manufacture of stamps, the following changes are noted : —

Ordinary Postage Stamps.

ENOMINATION.

Face.

Colour.

Date of issue.

On Watermarked
Paper After —

1 cent

2 cent

3 cent

4 cent

5 cent

6 cent
8 cent

io cent
io cent

15 cent
50 cent

$1.00...
$2.00 ...
$5.00...

Franklin

Washington

Jackson

Lincoln

Grant

Garfield

Sherman

Webster

Special delivery
messenger boy.

Clay

Jefrerson

Perry

Madison

Marshall

Blue

Carmine

Purple

Velvet brown
Light brown .
Light maroon

Lilac

Milori green ..
Blue

Deep blue

Orange

Black

Sapphire blue
Gray green ..

October 10, 1S94
October 5, 1894
September 24, 1894
September II, 1894
September 28, 1894
July 18, 1894
March 25, 1895
September 17, 1894
October 10, 1894

October 15, 1894
November 1, 1 894
November 15, 1894
December 10, 1894
December 10, 1894

April 29, 1895
May 2, 1895
October 31, 189
June 5, 1895
July 11, 1895
August 31, 1895
July 22, 1895
June 7, 1895
August 16, 1895

September 10, 1895
November 9, 1805
August 12, 1895
August 13, 1895
August 16, 1895

Prior to the above dates there were no ornaments in the upper corners of the
stamp. There was a 30-cent and a 90-cent which were supplanted by the 50-cent
and one dollar, and there has been no dollar stamps of this series.

Postage-Due Stamps.

Denomination.

Date of Issue.

On Watermarked
Paper After —

1 cent

2 cent

3 cent
5 cent

10 cent
30 cent
50 cent

August 14, 1894
July 20, 1894
April 27, 1895
April 27, 1895
September 24,
April 27, 1895
April 27, 1895

894

August 29, 1895
September 14, 1895
October 30, 1895
October 15, 1895
September 14, 1895

The old stamps were 1 by |] inch. Their successors, mentioned above, are -| by
y of an inch. The colour is brown, near the shade of the original stamp, and the
design is considerably changed, though the main feature— large numerals to repre-
sent their value — is retained.

Newspaper and Periodical Stamps.

Denomination.

Colour.

Figure.

On Watermarked
Paper After —

1 cent

Black

America

January 11, 1 896
November 21, 1895

2 cent

Black

Pink

10 cent

September 13, 1895
October 1 r, 1895
September 19, 1895

Pink

Orange

Blue ...

Astraea

Victory

Clio

Vesta

Peace

Commerce

Indian

k c 00

January 16, 1896

$10.00

Slate...,

January 27, 1896

$50.00

Carmine

Purple

$ 100.00

January 23, 1896

74 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

The denominations of these stamps from 1 to 10 cents, inclusive, are of the same
design. The numerals in the upper corners are equal in size in the 1, 2 and 5-cent
stamps, while those in the 10-cent stamp are condensed so as to fill the same space
tha.t is given to the others, besides being slightly different in style. Those in the 1 and
5-cent denominations are shaded dark on the lower half ; those of the 2 and 10-cent
stamps are white-faced. All these stamps bear an engraving of the statue of America,
by Crawford, which surmounts the dome of the Capitol at Washington, the same
subject as that on the lower denominations of the old series, except that the presen-
tation is in full face instead of three-quarters. The words " U. S. Postage " at the
top of the stamps are in white block letters upon an arched line, and the words
"Newspapers" on the left and "Periodicals" on the right are in vertical lines.
The denominations at the bottom are in white Eoman letters, and there is a foliate
ornamentation in the lower corners.

The upper border line of the 25 and 50 cent stamps is broken by two indentations,
separating that border into three equal parts, and the side inscriptions follow a curved
line upon a scroll. The dimensions of the stamps below the $2 denominations are
II by If inches.

The remaining denominations, from $2 to $100, are of the same size as the stamps
of the retired series — that is to say, jf by 1| inches.

This new series was first issued February 1st, 1895.

The number of ordinary postage stamps of the Bureau design that have been issued
on unwatermarked paper is as follows : —

1 cent, 404,168,300 10 cent, 12,263,180

2 cent, 1,271,048,700 15 cent, 1,583,920

3 cent, 20,214,300 50 cent, 175,330

4 cent, 16,718,150 $1.00, 35,046

5 cent, 30,688,840 $2.00, 10,027

6 cent, 5,120,800 $5.00, ' 6,251

8 cent, 2,426,100 10 cent Special Delivery 3,506,500

Sales of Newspaper and Periodical and Postage-Due Stamps.

Postmasters throughout the country are being solicited to sell Postage-Due
Stamps and Newspaper and Periodical Stamps, and are, it is regretted, complying
with such request, in spite of the law and the rules of the Department. ' ' Newspaper
and periodical stamps are never to be sold to any person nor loaned to other
postmasters. Their only proper use is to be affixed and immediately cancelled on the
stub of each receipt given for second-class matter accepted for mailing." The law
also provides (Section 513, P. L. and R.) : " That the postage-due stamps shall in no
case be sold by postmasters, or received by them in prepayment of postage." In
many cases, when discovered in the practice of selling these stamps, they plead
ignorance of the restrictions of the Department in this respect, and the Department
is daily being solicited for information on subjects that are fully treated of in the
Eegulations, the Postal Guide and circulars, which are readily accessible. The
excuse, therefore, of ignorance on these points will not be entertained, and the post-
master will not be relieved of any loss that he may sustain by his negligence.

Every postmaster is enjoined to read the Postal Laws and Regulations through
carefully, and all instructions, either in the Postal Guide or circulars, immediately
upon their receipt.

REVIEWS. 75

ffieviexos.

A Catalogue for Advanced Collectors,

A Catalogue for advanced collectors of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes, and
Wrappers compiled, from the most recent authorities and individual research,
by Henry Collin & Henry L. Colman. Part IX. Peru — Royal Mail Steam
Packet Company. New York : The Scott Stamp and Coin Co., Limited.

We have received the ninth instalment of this splendid catalogue. It
commences with Peru and brings the work down to the Royal Mail Steamship
packet stamps. Peru covers not less than eighteen of the large quarto pages ;
Phlippine Islands occupy nine pages, Portugal seven pages. It also includes
very full lists of Portuguese Indies, Queensland and Roumania. It is, in fact,
a most interesting part. In the matter of detail it probably errs on the side
of including everything. Prince Edward Island, for instance, has in full
detail all the dots and broken letters which Mr. A. A. Bartlett has been
nursing so carefully for years past, but many of which an inspection of the
plates, now in the safe custody of the Philatelic Society of London, prove must
be due to defective printing, and not to their presence on the plates themselves.
The illustrations are excellently engraved, and the character of previous parts
fully maintained.

Along with the part are some fourteen separate plates. Of these a plate
of Tolimas of 1870, a gem of the 1865 issue of the Dominican Republic from
the Tapling Collection, and five plates of early Philippines, are very fine. But
we fancy an appeal to Mr. Castle for a few photographs from his grand
Moldavians would have secured a better show of these rarities.

The Stamps of Great Britain.

Postage Supplement to Walter Morley s Catalogue and Price List of the Stamps of
Great Britain. London : Walter Morley

Mr. Morley has revised his prices of the stamps of Great Britain, and
published them up to date in the shape of a supplement to his general price
list. Needless to say, the prices have not been revised in the downward
direction, for the popularity of English Issues is still on the increase. Marginal
Control Letters are all priced, and we note that the prices are not confined
to pence or even shillings: one, indeed — id. lilac A, with no outer line — is
priced £5. Two others, the quite recent letters L and N, are distinguished
by the additional variety of "watermark inverted." Truly, the collecting of
English is getting to be very comprehensive.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

JfoveltJos and fyiscoverios*

. . ,j. . . ♦ .- . ....S: i.. i^i: .....

7%e earliest information as to New Issues will be much appreciated by us, and will be duly credited
to the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our foreign correspondents can materially help us in this
direction. When possible, a specimen should accompany the information, and be addressed to the Editor,
Mr. Edward J. Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon.

. ••»;■>. •»>*- »-• ♦ -. -i .: ■•{-»<■•♦. «■- «s •». —-

Belgium.— Mr. W. A. Eiley writes to
us from Bornhem, Belgium, as follows : —

When I was in England I read in some
philatelic paper (which, I cannot say) that they
intended to do away with the Sunday Coupons
in Belgium. So I wrote to the Belgian Minister
if it was true he intended to do away with the
coupons, and if he intended issuing commemo-
rative stamps for the Brussels Exhibition of
1897, to which 1 received the following answer,
which I give in English : —

Sir, — In reply to your letter of 12th March
inst., I have the honour to inform you that
there is no question af suppressing the coupon
attached to the post-stamps.

A commemorative postage stamp will be
issued in all probability for the International
Exhibition of Brussels in 1897. It is not
actually possible to say what will be the value
of this stamp, or to fix the time during which it
will be issued.

Please to agree, sir, with the assurance of
my distinguished consideration.

Au nom du Ministre,

Le directeur General,
Mr. W. A. Riley, P. Delarq.

Bornhem.

I hope the above information will prove of
interest to the readers of your esteemed paper.

The A. J. P. says:—

Mr. J. K. Schuh has sent us the 10 centimes
Postal Packet Stamp with figures of value in
black. The peculiarity of this stamp is that it
is printed in an ink which seems to dissolve in
benzine— at least the orange colour which is in
it-— as the stamp which we threw into benzine
in order to see its watermark had changed after
an immersion of a few seconds from a brown
orange to a bistre, although an immersion of
several minutes in water, of the same stamp,
had no effect upon it. This is the only stamp
in our experience on which benzine has this
effect.

British South Africa. — Mr. D.

Montague Jacobs writes us from Salis-
bury, Rhodesia : —

I have been favoured with a view of a speci-
men of the new series of stamps to be issued by
the British South Africa Company for use in
this country. To obviate the necessity of
describing this stamp, I have much pleasure in
enclosing one of the 4d. value. There are six

rows of ten in each row to the sheet, which has
an outer line of colour outside the perforations
on each sheet. The left hand margin of the
sheet has a small figure 2 in a small circle,
opposite the top row of stamps. I understand
there is a full series of this new issue, but as
the 4d. one is the only sheet yet unpacked, I
am unable to give you the necessary informa-
tion, but I shall do so as soon as it is in my
possession, and if possible send you a set of the
lower values, with full description of higher
ones. These stamps are not to be placed in
issue until the present issue is completely
exhausted, which is not likely to be for a couple
of months yet.

To this we are enabled to add that the
values of the new stamps are, £d., Id.,
2d., 3d., 4d., 6d., 8d., and Is.; but we
cannot yet give the colours of the series.

These stamps have been designed and
printed by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co.,
and compare very unfavourably with the
splendid workmanship of Messrs. Brad-
bury, Wilkinson & Co., who formerly
printed the B.S3.A. stamps, We illustrate
the 4d. sent us. The others vary only in
colour. Apparently they are to be bi-
coloured, as this 4d. is printed in blue,
with finicking red dots in the neighbour-
hood of the figures of value. The stamps
are perf. 14.

In chronicling the 2d. and 4d. of the
old design on thicker paper, we should
have noted that they are perf. 12£.

Bulgaria. — Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co. send us a set of the "Boris" com-
memoration stamp, and as we are unable
to obtain any reliable information whether
these stamps are to be a permanent issue
or not, we must perforce chronicle them.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

If they are to be a permanent issue, as
we are assured on one hand, we don't see
how they can be set aside. They are
issued to commemorate the baptism of
Prince Boris into the Greek Church on
the 14th Feb. last. The stamps are
lithographed on white wove paper,
perf. 13.

Adhesives.

I stot, green.

5 stot, blue.
15 stot, mauve.
25 stot, red.

China. — The following telegram ap-
peared in the 'limes on March 28th under
the heading of "Chinese Postal Re-
form " : —

We are informed that the following telegram
Las been received in London, dated Peking,
March 27 :—

Imperial Edict issued extending Customs
Post Office Department and establishing
Imperial National Post Service under Sir
Robert Hart, as Customs and Post Inspector-
General."

Colombian Republic— Mr. W. P.

Parry writes that he has received a new

registration stamp, type and perf. similar

to last issue, but printed on a yellowish

paper in a pale brown tint.

Adhesive.

Registration stamp.

5c. pule brown on yellow paper.

Cuban Republic. — A recent issue of
the Westminster Gazette contained the
following :—

The stamp-collecting enthusiast shoidd be on
the alert to secure early specimens of the
postage-stamps of the Republic of Cuba. It is
true that as the Cuban Republic is not yet
definitely constituted, or accepted into the fra-
ternity of legitimate States, its postage-stamps
do not enjoy at present a recognised interna-
tional currency. A correspondent, however,
assures us that they are ready for circulation all
over the world. They have been printed, as
might perhaps be expected, in the United IStates.
The postage-stamp of the Cuban Republic
(in spe) is tall and narrow. In the centre there
is an oval space, containing the upstanding
banner of the new Commonwealth. (The ban-
ner, by the way, is blue, with two white stripes,
between which is a white star in a red triangle.)
Above the picture of the banner are inscribed
the words " Republica de Cuba," and below it
" Cuba Libre." The colour of the central oval
differs according to the value of the stamp.
The 1-centavo stamp is orange - yellow, the
5-centavos green, the 10-centavos blue, and the
'20-centavos black.

It should be needless to warn collectors
against this sort of rubbish, but we give
it publicity that they may be on their
guard, for this is not the first time that
an issue for a Cuban Eepublic has been
offered them. Of course these stamps
will be included in the ban of the S. S. S. S.

Eritrea.— Recent events seemed to
point to the retirement of Italy from
Africa, and the consequent closing of this
series. But Italy now seems determined
to maintain her hold. Meanwhile we
have from Messrs. "Whitfield King & Co.
the 20c and 25c. of the new Italian types
to chronicle with the familiar curved sur-
charge " Colonia Eritrea " in black,
perf. 14 J, wmk. crown.
Adhesives.

20c. brownish orange.

25c. blue.

Fernando Po. — Messrs. Whitfield
King & Co. send us two stamps of the
current series in new colours, and we
presume the change will run through
the whole series as in the case of Cuba
already chronicled.

Adhesivs.
2c. red.
5c. green.

Finland . — According to the lllustrierte
Brief marhen Zeitung. the 10 pennia rose
is now also issued with perforation 14.

Adhesive.
]0p. rose. Perforated 14.

Great Britain. — Our publishers in-
form us that a new official surcharge has
been issued, namely, O.W., which stands
for Office of Works. It is of the same
type as the LR. official, and exists only
on the id. and Id. values. It was issued
for the first time on the 12th of March.

Adhesive.

£.1. red Bur. O.W.

Id. mauve „ „

Hong Kong. — The Review Philatelique
Delqe announces the issue of a 4c. grey,
C.A., perf. 14.

Adhesive.

4c. grey.

Nowanugger. — The current stamps
are said to have been surcharged " Ser-
vice " in native characters.

Adhesives.

1 docra black sur. red.

2 „ blue green „

3 „ orange „

Peru.— We have from Messrs. Whit-
field King & Co., an entirely new, and
as we understand, permanent set. The
portraits on the adhesives are as follows :
— 1 and 2c, Manco Capac ; oc, 10c,
and 20c, Pizarro ; and 50c and 1
and 2 soles, La Mar. The series of
portraits are curiously interesting.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Manco Capac is the traditional first
father of the ruling Incas of Peru,
and the founder of the Inca monarchy.
Pizarro (presumably Francisco) was the
Spanish conqueror of Peru in the six-
teenth century. La Mar is, we presume,
the Spanish American general who com-
manded the Peruvian troops at Ayacucho
in 1824, and who, three years afterwards,
was elected President of Peru. It is, to
say the least, somewhat strange that
Peru should thus endeavour to popularise
the memory of its former conquerors and
masters alongside of its own great tra-
ditional Inca.

PuniMimiii

tJIIMIilii

Adhesive*.

1c. ultramarine, portrait of Manco Capac.
2c. blue, „ „ „

5c.
10c.
20c.
50c.

1 so?

bronze blue

yellow

oiange

pink

vermilion

Pizarro.

La Mar.

2 soles rose lake

Envelopes.

5c. bronze blue, portrait of Pizarro.
10c. yellow „ „

20c. orange ,, ,,

Wrappers.

Ic. ultramarine, portrait of Manco Capac.

2c. blue „ „

5c. bronze blue ,, Pizarro.

20c. orange „ ,,

Philippine Islands.— We have three
of the current set in new colours from
Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.,

pre-

sumably the change will run through
the whole series.

Adhesives.

2c. blue.
10c. pale brown.
15c. green.

Santander.— We illustrate the
oc, chronicled by us last month.

new

Selangor. — Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. send us the following extract from
a letter received by them from the Post-
master of Selangor in reply to one sent
him last July, enclosing a draft for the
new stamps : —

I must, however, inform you that for the
future such requisitions will not be entertained
by this office, as it is entirely out of our
province of duty to supply stamps for other
than legitimate purposes!

Servia. — We have the new 1 para
value from Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co., also 1 dinar.

Adhesive.
1 para, pale red.
1 dinar, red on blue.

Tolima. — Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. send us some new eubiertas or
registration labels. They are oblong as
before, and measure oin. by 2T^-iu. They
are all gummed on the back.

Adhesives.

20c.

brown on white.

30c.

Kreen on v/liite.

40c.

red on white.

60c.

black on yellow.

70c.

bl ick on brown.

80c.

black on screen.

90c.

black on bine.

lpeso.

black on magenta.

Tonga. — Tongan stamps have been
under a cloud for some considerable time.
There was ample circumstantial evidence
that Tonga -was playing fast and loose
with us, so much so, that the S.S.S.S.
listed its i-sues as unnecessary and specu-
lative. But it seems we must not always
judge too definitely by appearances or by
circumstantial evidence.

The following letter from the British
Vice-Consul of Tonga, received from
Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. puts a
new complexion upon the condemned
stamps.

Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 11 M, 1895'.

Sir, — My attention has been drawn to a

notice grounded on insufficient data, and

emanating from the S.S.S.S., to the effect that

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

late issues of Tongan stamps have been
unnecessary and speculative, and perhaps my
evidence as an Official of the Imperial Govern-
ment, resident in Tonga, and therefore entirely
disinterested, may he believed when I state
most emphatically that they have been neither
one nor the other.

Upon the accession to the throne of his
present Tongan Majesty he was, like other
youthful monarchs nearer home, anxious to see
his own features on the stamps of the country,
and he commissioned the latePremier of Tonga
who was resident in Auckland, to superintend
the execution of the new stamps, which was
all the more necessary, as the lower values of
the 1892 issue were nearly sold out.

Tbis commission resulted in the abortions
mentioned in the notice first referred to, but
as these could not be at once available, the
various surcharges of the latter end of 1893
were resorted to.

It further appears that a large number of
essays were sent in to the late Premier, some
fifteen I believe, and he knowing that the post
office in Tonga was very short of stamps, on
his own authority, I believe, bad the surcharges
in red, and th^ ljd. blue set struck off and
sent on to Tonga.

Native governments are slow to move, and
since the dismissal of the late postmaster the
Premier has been more than ever distrustful ;
he will take no , action himself, and will not
authorize the present postmaster to do so
either, but to accuse him of speculating, or
knowing what it means, or how to set about it,
is the wildest imagination, and utterly without
foundation, and 1 am positive that the Tongan
Government not only has never heard of the
S.S.S.S,, but would not let the knowledge,
if they had, interfere in the least with the even
tenour of their somewhat lethargic way. and
had it not been for the eagerness of dealers to
obtain these very stamps, the various supplies
would not have run out so fast, and in conse-
quence the surcharges would not have been
nearly so numerous.

When I left on leave a few days ago the
supply of Jd., Id. and 2d. had entirely run out,
and the 2 id. nearly so.

The postmaster was at his wits' ends to know
what to do, therefore more surcharges will, in
all probability, be resorted to, and the object of
the Post-office being primarily to meet the con-
venience of the letter-writing public, and not
the dealers, I cannot see the enormity of using
up the old stamps in stock with the denomina-
tions necessary to meet the convenience of that
same public pending the arrival of the perma-
nent issue, which 1 will now refer to.

His Majesty not being flattered with his
portrait as delineated on the new stamps, has

for the last month had the services of a first-rate
photographer from Auckland. That gentleman
returned with me from Tonga, and is now
arranging and designing the stamps for a new
issue ranging from ^d. to 4s., which are to be
printed in England (if meanwhile the Tongan
Government does not forget all about it).

I am not at liberty to say what the designs
are, but I believe that before the end of this
year Tonga will possess, as works of art, (.ne
of, if not the most beautiful set of stamps in the
world, but meanwhile the unfortunate post-
master has a very hard row to hoe.

Let the S.S.S.S. in mercy bear this in mind,
and not be in too great a hurry to condemn.
''Audi ulteram partem " is very applicable.
(Signed) R. B Leefe,

Vice-Consu1.

Transvaal. — Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. send us the Id. red with figure
and letters of value '* 1 Penny" in green.

Adhesive.
Id. red, green label.

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No. 1, price one shilling (postage extra).

The February packet contains seven
varieties, all unused, viz. : — British
South Africa Co. (new type) M., Id., 2d.,
and 3d. ; Cuba 1896, £, 1, and 2 mils
green.

No. 2, price five shillings (postage
extra).

The February packet contains ten
varieties, all unused, viz. : Bulgaria
1896 (Boris) 1, 5, lo, and 2o stot. ; San
Marino 20c. violet; Uruguay 2c. blue;
British South Africa Company (new type)
4d., 6d., 8d., and Is.

These packets are on sale from March -25th
to April -24th (unless the supply is previously
exhausted), and are supplied only to Subscribers
to the " Philatelic Record and Stamp -
News." Similar packets will be on sale every
month, and may be [subscribed fur in advance
for the year (January to December inclusive),
at the following rates: — Xo. 1 packet (sent by
bookpjst with the paper), 12s., post-free (it
by letter post the postage is Is. extra Inland,
2s. (id. Abroad). Xo. 2 packet (by letter pos-t).
Inland 01s., Abroad 62s. 6d., post-free.

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum)
is extra. — Buhl & Co., Limited, 11, Queen
Victoria Street, London, E.C.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

^kilatelxj in the J)Ta3Q*

>^<

U.S. 30c. of 1872. Secret Mark.
To Mr. G. A. Padro, Mr. Hilckes and
the S. C. F. apparently belong the credit
of the discovery of the engraver's " Secret
mark" on the 30c. U.S. of 1872. We
are indebted to Mr. H. for permission to
quote his explanation of the discovery in
full, and for the use of the illustrations.

Most collectors of the United States stiimps
are aware that the 1872 issue was printed by
the National Bank Note Company, and that in
1873 the plates were handed over to the Con-
tinental Bank Note Company, who added to
every value some sort of a mark to distinguish
its own printing irom that of the National
Company. This it appears was done in the
following way : The entire plate was before
the engraver, and he was instructed to add to
every stamp on that plate a certain secret mark,
which, since it was separately added to every
stamp on the plate, would necessarily show
under the microscope small deviations, although
perhaps very minute. This, in my opinion, is a
most important fact, and the reason will be
apparent from the following description of what
I believe to be the secret mark of the Conti-
nental Company on the 30c. black, which so
far has escaped the eagle eyes of our American
collectors. Mr. G-. A. Padro drew my attention
some weeks ago to a certain dot appearing on
the 30c. black, a dot corresponding to a similar
mark upon the 30c. brown, but which was
missing from many specimens He and I then
undertook a most careful examination of a very
large number of these stamps, which I hap-
pened to have in stock, and we soon came to
the conclusion that what we had discovered was
to all intents and purposes the secret mark . I
have carefully prepared enlarged illustrations
which will simplify the description.

I begin with the 30c. brown. Opposite the
first shading line underneath the mouth running
to the left, within the white frame separating

Figure 1.

the central medallion from the border frame a
small dot is visible which apparently hasl no
connection whatpver with the design (figure 1).
I will at once add that this dot is not always
in precisely the same position — sometimes it is

a shade higher, sometimes lower, sometimes
almost touching the frame on the left, and at
other times nearly touching the shading lines.
The size of this dot also varies. Sometimes it
is very pronounced, and of irregular shape ;
sometimes perfectly round, and, again, some-
times extremely minute. All this is in favour
of my assertion that the various marks were
added to every stamp on the plate separately,
and by hand.

We then examined the 30c. black, searching
for the same dot, and very soon found a large
number of copies which showed quite a different

(Secret Mark). Figure 2.

mark at or about the same place. We found
that the same line (the first underneath the
mouth) considerably protruded over the rim of
the medallion into the white frame, thus ap-
pearing as a projection of a more or less pro-
nounced character (figure 2). We became
excited. More copies were examined, and we
again found that although this projection was
visible in a very large number of copies it was
always of a different shape, and plainly proved
that it was really not part and parcel of the
design, but a kind of after-thought. In some
instances, we even found that although we
coidd not see any absolute projection, this
lengthening of the shading line happened to fall
between two shading lines.

This made the chain of evidence complete.
Let us repeat, the first issue of the 30c. black
printed by the National Bank Note Company
does not show either dot or projection (fig 3).

[First Plate]. Figure 3.

The copies we found without this mark are
always on the [hard paper well known to be
peculiar to this issue. The second lot printed

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

by the Continental Bank Note Company, and
showing the projection, is partly on the hard
paper and partly on the soft paper ; the retouch
die, showing the dot only, does not occur on
anything but the soft paper. The brown 30c,
which can for obvious reasons be only printed
from the retouch plate, always shows the dot
and never the projection. Even in those cases
where the dot is not very plain it can be dis-
tinguished with a strong microscope, but lhave
a better proof which more than endorses the
above.

The proofs on cardboai-d are always without
the secret mark as far as the black stamp is
concerned, but the brown proof always shows
the dot, and, further, those black proofs with
" specimen " which are grilled or embossed are
printed from the retouch plate with dot, thus
proving that they are reprints and not the
original issue. The discovery of this secret
mark is of course of great moment in distin-
guishing forged grills from genuine ones, since
as a matter of fact the first printing on the hard
paper without any secret marks is very rare, and
only these first printings were used for the
process.

Colonial English.

There has been considerable discussion
as to whether an English stamp used for
franking a letter from a colony or a
foreign country is changed, hey, presto !
by virtue of the colonial or foreign can-
cellation, from an English into a colonial
or foreign postage stamp, and the time
has come when we may profitably collate
the arguments used on both sides of the
question.

MR. HILCKES STARTS THE BUSINESS.

Mr. Hilckes seems to have set the ball
a-rollingby chronicling '' postmarks used
abroad in the homeward-bound mail " in
his Catalogue of English Adhesives, pub-
lished in 1894. Under the heading of
" Colonial Postmarks " he wrote : —

Very few collectors are aware that British
Stamps were used in the Colonies before the
special issues of the various Dependencies.
Here we may say that no attention whatever
has been paid to these issues, and we maintain
that a British Stamp used, say, in Antigua or
Lima, is really not a British Stamp, but an
Antiguan or Peruvian Stamp. It is utterly
immaterial whether the design happens to coin-
cide with those in use in the British Island ; it
might just as well have been a piece of paper
with the respective postmark. The latter, in
such a case, gives the stamp a new character
and transfers it into a stamp belonging to the
country where it is used.

WHAT MAJOR EVANS SAYS.

Major Evans was the first leading
philatelist to protest against the claim of
the so-called " Colonial English." In

the Monthly Journal for last November
he wrote : —

"We have not yet been quite educated up to
postmark-collecting pitch ; we by no means
deprecate their study, but we are still unable to
see that a variation in the postmark can fairly
be held to constitute a variety of the stamp upon
which it is impressed. A knowledge of English
postmarks will tell us that one stamp was used
at Birmingham and another at Manchester.
But there is something else that requires to be
demonstrated, and that is what possible differ-
ence this makes in the stamp. The postmarks
will, we believe, still tell us at which of the
islands any of the current Leeward Islands
stamps were used ; are we to collect and cata-
logue them still under Antigua, Dominica, &c.
&c. ? A line mus tbe drawn somewhere, and
we should draw it at such variations as never
existed in unused specimens. In our humble
opinion, this multiplying and " booming " of
unnecessary varieties, is quite as great a danger
to Philately as the producing of unnecessary
issues.

This of course roused the ire of the
other side, and a correspondent replied
as follows : — ■

Your editorial remarks respecting Colonial
Postmarks seem to me to have somewhat missed
the point. What the collector of these inter-
esting varieties seeks for is, not such trivial
affairs as the difference between, say, Leeds and
Manchester, but to obtain a collection of the
English stamps used in our Colonies and in
Foreign Countries.

To this Major Evans replied: —

In our opinion there is no greater interest
attached to a stamp used in a British Post Office
abroad, than to a stamp used in a British Post
Office at home. The stamp is identically the
same, and the postmark (except to a collector
of postmarks, who in his turn would ignore the
stamp) cannot make it different. The offices
abroad, at which these stamps were used, were
just as much British Post Offices as those at
Manchester or Leeds.

WHAT MR. EWEN SAYS.

Mr. H. L. Estrange Ewen, Editor of
the English Specialists' Journal, replying
to Major Evans, says : —

We agree with Major Evans that British
stamps, whatever the postmark, are British
stamps. But, apait from this, is there not a
very good reason why "Colonial English"
should be collected ? We must say we think
great interest attaches to them. If their col-
lection and study is not philately, well, then, it
must be something else. Personally we do not
mind at all, and Major Evans is welcome to his
contention. It probably is not philately accord-
ing to the original meaning of the word. But if
a hobby is interesting and profitable, why should
it not have devotees ?

This is practically admitting that the
collecting of "Colonial English" is
simply postmark collecting.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

tA POSTMASTER-GENERALS OPINION.

Next we have a real Postmaster Gene-
ral's opinion. Mr. C. Stewart-Wilson,
Postmaster-General of Bengal, President
of the Philatelic Society of Bengal, him-
self a collector, in a paper published in the
Philatelic World of Calcutta, contends that
the postmark obliteration of early Maltese,
and the overprint in local currency for
the Levant, are on a par as to collecta-
bility, and that it would be absurd to
reject the distinguishing postmark oblite-
ration and accept the currency overprint.

THE PHILATELIC WORLD DISSENTS.

The Editor of the Philatelic World,
commenting on Mr. Stewart- Wilson's
paper, says : —

We have never accepted, and can never
accept, the doctrine of Postmarks. If a Country
or Colony, having no stamps of its own, is
compelled to use the stamps of the mother
country, or a neighbouring colony, it does not
follow to our thinking that those stamps can be
classified as the stamps of the Colony so using
them. If it is Postmarks that we collect, then
of course the question assumes a different phase.
The stamp, if not surcharged, is the stamp of the
country which originally issued it, not of the
country which used it.

WHAT THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON

SAYS.

And lastly we have the following entry
from the Minutes of the Philatelic Society
of London relating to a meeting at which
the question was discussed.

In the discussion which ensued, the general
opinion prevailed that, although the claim of
some specialists that the stamps of the United
Kingdom, bearing foreign or Colonial postmarks,
should be collected as being stamps of the place
from which they were posted could not be sup-
ported, the investigation of the subject of their
use abroad was one of considerable interest in
the study of postal history.

THE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE.

Therefore, the weight of evidence seems
to be altogether in favour of the assertion
that though the collection of so-called
" Colonial English " may be most inter-
esting from a postmark collecting point
of view, it cannot be classed as philately,
or the collection of postage stamps. To
treat a mere cancellation of a stamp as a
surcharge is obviously absurd. The can-
cellation is done to prevent the stamp
being used a second time, but a surcharge,
such as the currency overprint for the
Levant, is clearly intended to alter the
availability of the unused stamp. Surely
it is the stamp in its unused condition that
must determine its character, and not its
cancellation or defacement.

Seychelles Provisionals.

The abnormal activity in the manu-
facture of varieties that has been observ-
able for some time in Seychelles issues
has at last secured official attention. We
quote from "Our Stamp Album" in
Pearson's Weekly : —

We have before us a copy of the Seychelles
Government Gazette, December 31st, 1895,
with the announcement that " Gov't Notice No.
78, of October 26th, 1895, notifying certain
changes in the postal rates, is hereby cancelled
until further orders."

The explanation of this step is to be found,
no doubt, in the anxiety of the authorities to
prevent any suspicion of designs on the phila-
telic market. The Governor of Mauritius, who
has himself had a wigging from the Colonial
Office about his own surcharges, sent the cable-
gram to the Administrator of Seychelles,
ordering him to issue no provisional stamps till
authorised from London to do so. He has
consequently postponed putting into operation
the change in postal rates which would have
rendered these provisionals necessary.

These changes in postal rates are not in
Colonial hands, but are decreed by the Bureau
of the International Postal Union, for the
reason that the tremendous fall in the worth of
the rupee has disordered all the currency values
of the East. This accounts for the recent
surcharges on the Siamese, Borneo, Labuan,
and other Asiatic stamps, and in the case of
Seychelles, which now has no denominations
that would fit the proposed scale of rate, it will
necessitate a new set of stamps.

The Late Lord Kingston.

The late Lord Kingston (says the
World), although always suffering from
chest affections, was a thorough sports-
man, and such a dead shot, that nobody
dared attack him in those troublesome
times when he carried his life in his
hands, and traversed disturbed districts
of Ireland without the smallest fear. He
exercised much old-fashioned hospitality
at Kilronan Castle, where he will be
greatly missed. He was immensely
popular with his tenants, and, indeed,
with all who knew him.

Changes in Victorians.

The Australian Stamp Collector gives
the history of recent changes in some of
the postage stamps of Victoria.

In September last, the colour of the 2s.
stamp was changed from sage-green on green
paper (in which it has been issued for about ten
years), to pale green on white paper. In the
new shade it resembles the ninepenny, and a
complaint came from the post- office that tha
clerks had sold a quantity of the 2s. in mistake
for the 9d. Thereupon the stock in the G.P.O.
was destroyed, and all the white paper issue
called in. The few dealers and collectors who

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

were " in the know " bought up all they could
get at about double face value, and we have
heard of specimens changing hand? since at 5s.
and 6s. each. For about a month no 2s,
stamps were issued, the postal authorities
stating that a new plate was being prepared,
but a few weeks since the same design came
out again in a new shade, a brilliant cobalt
green being the current colour, and this tint
has never been used in any other Victorian
stamp. The colour of 9d. was also changed
from green to dark-red, and the 8d. rose on
pink paper has been withdrawn.

Paper of U.S. Stamps 1870-1885.

Mr. Crawford Capon, the industrious
specialist of U.S. issues, has in the Po*t
Office (US.) of February tackled the
knotty question of the varieties of paper
in the issues of 1870-1885. He says :

The study of the paper of United States
stamps is one of the most difficult which can
be attempted, that is, if the student expects to
attain any marked degree of certainty in his
results. The study of paper of the period from
1870 to 1885, at which latter time the Govern-
ment distinctly specified what kind of paper
should be used in printing its stamps, is one
especially fraught with difficulties. The paper
was changed repeatedly during these years, and
in sume of them many trials were made in order
to secure, if possible, greater perfection in the
completed stamps.

Taking the different periods, he gives
the following as the general character-
istics of the various changes of paper : —

I, National Bank Note Company, 1870-73,
The paper is hard, smooth, opaque or trans-
lucent, varying little in thickness. II. Conti-
nental Bank Note Company, 1873-77. The
paper is hard, rather rough, opaque or translu-
cent. III. Continental Bank Note Company.
1877-79, The paper of the preceding period
was used largely during this period, but there
was a peculiar paper introduced about 1878
which is characteristic of this period. It may
be described in the terms we have used as hard,
smooth, translucent and porous. IV. American
Bank Note Company, 1879-85. Hard, then
soft, rough or smooth, usually porous, opaque,
then translucent, lined horizontally.

Guarantees at Auctions.

The Editor of the Post Office lays down
a law of his own as to the guarantees
which should be the practice in regard to
stamps sold by auction. On this side vve
now have a seven days' limit, which is
found to be sufficient.

The true position, and the one which is taken
by the foremost auctioneers, is that every
guarantee should be good for an indefinite
time. A guarantee for a limited time, or no
guarantee at all, would do well enough for
dealers who inspect stamps personally before

purchasing at sales. They are expected to look
out for themselves, and would undoubtedly do
so in case no guarantees were given, The
collector, however, does not, in many cases,
have any means of judging as to the genuine-
ness of a stamp. His reliance is on the integ-
rity and knowledge of the firm selling at
auction. A limited guarantee is for him prac-
tically worthless.

Mr. Walter F. Scott, a dealer of New
York, says in the Philatelic Era : —

My personal view of the matter is that the
guarantee of the genuineness of the stamps
should be unlimited. A limited guarantee is
not worth the paper it is written on, and some
one is bound to get deceived in the end. It is
like passing a counterfeit bank note, it might
be fine enough to pass through several hands,
but it is sure to be detected when presented to
the government.

Great Britain : Very Minor Varieties.

Our friends wiio are booming all sorts
and conditions of minor varieties of
the English issues are scathingly over-
hauled by the Editor of the Monthly
Circular. He asks :

Can the most devoted of the little band who
are running after what they term minor
varieties, say what are the great results they
have brought to light or have thrown light
upon ? One thinks he has made a great dis-
covery when he finds that on one of the
embossed stamps of one penny there is a white
speck on the ground opposite to Her Majesty's
nose. Yes, it is so ; the die evidently got a
knock, and so did a die of lgd., which was
damaged on its outer edge. In die 2 of the
4d., the " t " in postage had from the first a
very weak head, which got worse until none at
all was left visible. We cculd go on with a
long list of cripples of all kinds, but who wants
to collect them save those who, like the Pharisee,
pay tithes on the meanest pot-herbs and
neglect matters of more importance.

It would be positively dangerous for a
very- minor- variety- monger to approach
too close to that Editor.

Heligoland Remainders.

In the Deutsche Briefmarken-Zeituncj
Herr Lindenberg has published an
exhaustive paper on the stamps of
Heligoland, in which he especially deals
with the quantities sold by the Post-office
during the period from 1873 to 1890. As
the figures are based upon official infor-
mation, they are absolutely reliable. On
this occasion the author corrects a mis-
statement in his former paper. Of the
2 schilling of the first issue were printed
200,000, and of the 6 schilling 100,000;
he had previously given these figures in
reversed order. The quantities of the
remainders have some interest, and may,

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

therefore, find room here. There were
left, in round numbers, of the

\ schilling

.. 108,000

3 pfennig .

.. 32,000

\ „ error

... 15,000

5 „

.. 22,000

2 }>

... 15,000

10 „

.. 76,000

f »

... 40,000

20 „

.. 74,000

1 ,.

... 4,000

25 „

.. 54,000

n „

... 16,000

50 „

.. 17,000

1 pfennig

...100,000

1 mark

.. 6,000

...204,000

5 „

.. 7,000

Of the 2 and 6 schilling the figures
could not be ascertained. The purchaser
of the old remainders has fixed them at
75,000 and 40,000 respectively, but these
figures are very likely too low The
above will afford a good foundation for
estimating the relative rarity of the differ-
ent kinds of the unused originals of
Heligoland.

Compound Envelopes.

The English Specialists'' Journal asks
itself the question : Should compound
envelopes be collected ? and answers it
in the following very sensible manner : —

No envelopes or entires stamped to order
are worthy ot collection in their entire state.
An impression from each die is, however, of
philatelic interest, and may be as conveniently
shown on a piece of paper two inches square.
There is no need to keep the entire envelope, as
this is quite unofficial. Two or more stamps
struck side by side on the same piece of paper
surely have no more philatelic interest than two
adhesive stamps attached to the same piece. In
the case of the envelopes, &c, issued by the
Post Office, these should certainly be collected
entire, as the paper as well as the stamp is
official.

U. S. Issue of 1873.

The Post Office (U.S.) in calling attention
to the peculiarities of this issue says : —

There are certain stamps of the issue of 1873
which are worth a careful attention. They
correspond with these worn plate stamps, but
are not plain frames. The general characteristic
of stamps printed by the National Bank Note
Company is perfect evenness in the distribution
of the ink over the whole surface of the stamp.
The better processes employed by each of the
companies who have printed United States
stamps have produced this evenness in the
distribution of the ink in all the stamps they
have manufactured. The Continental Company
began in 1873 with an inferior process, and the
principal characteristic of their work is a lack
of evenness in the distribution of the ink. The
central ovals are usually darker, or have a
larger amount of ink upon them than the
surrounding portions. These remarks apply
with exactness to stamps from new or unworn
plates.

Honduras Postal Service.

Honduras has been one of the very
worst offenders in the Seebeck system,

but it has recently turned out a series
of obviously home manufacture. The
interest of philatelists in the stamps of
Seebeckised countries is of course reduced
to a minimum, still the following par-
ticulars concerning the postal service
of Honduras taken from the Bay State
Philatelist is worth preserving : —

Previous to the year 1887 the postal service
of Honduras was in a very disorganized con-
dition, and the transmission of internal mails
was neither regular nor certain. Since that
time, however, great improvements have been
made, and the service is now surprisingly
prompt and regular, considering the lack of
good roads and the fact that the mails are
carried by couriers on foot. These men make
astonishing trips over mountain trails and
swollen rivers, climbing steep hills and fording
streams with heavy mail bags on their shoulders,
yet generally outstripping mounted travellers
and arriving safely at their destination. In
1879, Honduras entered the Universal Postal
Union, and a thorough reorganization was
then made and a new tariff of charge
adopted. Postage from the United States is
5 cents for letters not exceeding half an ounce ;
postal cards, 2 cents ; newspapers, 1 cent per
2 ounces. From Honduras to United States :
Letters, 10 centavos per half ounce ; postal
cards, 3 centavos ; newspapers and books, 2
centavos per 2 ounces ; registration, 10 cen-
tavos ; charge for return receipt, 5 centavos.
Postage to the interior of the Republic, and to
Gautemala, Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa
Rica, is as follows : Letters from 15 to 50
grammes, 5 cents; printed matter, for each
50 grammes, 1 cent ; commercial circulars, 5
cents for the first 250 grammes, 1 cent for
each additional 50 grammes ; samples, 2 cents
for the first 100 grammes ; and 1 cent for each
additional 50 grammes ; packages, 3, 5, 15,
and 25 cents for each 450 grammes for the
respective distances of 5, 10, 20, and 35
leagues, 40 cents. Correspondence addressed
to the bishop or postmasters is free of postage.

Discovery of 10c. Baltimore.

The Daily Stamp Item (U.S.), gives
the following account of the discovery
of the 10c. Baltimore : —

Mr. Duncan, a young man about 19 years
of age, who had secured the permission of a
Louisville lawyer to look over his papers, was told
that he was welcome to anything he might find
in the way of rare stamps, but the papers had
already been overhauled by many others. This
did not discourage Duncan, and he set to work
to make a systematic search. The result of the
find was as follows : —

1 Baltimore, 10c, adhesive, on original
cover.

5 New York, 5c, black (one pair and three
single specimens). One of the single stamps
appeared to be a variety.

150 United States, 1847, 5c.

110 United States, 1847, 10c.

The 10c Baltimore is the only stamp of the
kind known to exist. Another stamp of the
same denomination will be offered for sale in

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

the Woodward auction, to take place next
week, but this stamp is on blue paper, whereas
the one found in Louisville is on white paper.
It is also a perfect specimen, and is, without
question, the rarest stamp known.

Paraguay Stamp Sales.

The Bay State Philatelist gives the
following interesting particulars con-
cerning the postal service of Paraguay : —
In 1888 the sales of stamps and stamped
envelopes and wrappers were §11,293.78; in
1889, $12,936.27 ; and in 1890, $15,080.70.
The unstamped correspondence yielded, in
1888, $239.58 ; in 1889, $76.65, and in 1890,
$43.60. The receipts from post office boxes
were, in 188"*, $1,045.60 ; in 1889, $1,396. 80,
and in 1890, $1,479.20. According to the
Biario Official of December 3, 1893, the
postal movement in Paraguay in 1892 was as
follows : —

Private letters 469,783

Printed matter 603,149

Postal cards 14,101

Samples 1,830

Official communications 46,275

llegistered letters 36,812

Total 1,171,950

Ecuador Postal Service.

Ecuador is a country which has can-
celled its Seebeck arrangement for the
gratuitous supply of its postage stamps,
but has nevertheless shown that it cannot
entirely abandon speculative issues. The
Bay State Philatelist gives us a glimpse
into its postal arrangements : —

Ecuador is a member of the Universal
Postal Union, and has entered into parcel-post
conventions with several countries. The
money-order system was introduced into the
country by way of experiment in 1889,
between the cities of Quito. Ambato, Cuenca,
Guyaquil, and Azognes. The Secretary of the
Treasury, under whose control the branches of
post offices and telegraphs have been placed in
Ecuador, says, in his report to the Congress of
June 10, 1892, that the mail service is now as
perfect as possible ; '; So far as regularity,
safety, rapidity, and cheapness are concerned,
nothing better can be expected, if the fact is
taken into consideration that the mail is carried
on mule-back. The service reaches every
place in the Republic, and even the remotest
and least important town or village enjoys its
benefits." The Government expended in this
branch $92,316.04 in 1890, and $99,366,65 in
1892.

Great Britain : Control Letters.

Some day a fierce war of words will be
waged over the collectability of Control
Letters. The materials for such a war
are being accumulated. The latest addi-
tion to our information is contributed by
Mr. Hyde to the Bazaar. He explains :

During 1835 the Control Letters on our

penny stamps were O, P, S, and T. They are
found on the margin, under the eleventh stamp
of the last row of each sheet.

The year commenced with S, which had been
in use during the end of 1894, and continued
for the greater part of 1895, which commenced
and ended with that letter. In April 0 was
issued, and remained in use during May and
June, at the end of which month P appeared,
and lasted until very early in July, when it
ceased for the rest of the year. It was suc-
ceeded by T, which alternately with S, was
used duriug the remainder of 1895.

A collection of stamps with control letters
attached will show hereafter the year, and often
the month, when these stamps were issued ;
without them no one can tell the difference
between our penny stamps of 1882 to 1895, or
any year between.

Of our halfpenny stamps, the control letters,
in January, 1895, were I, M, and N. These
lasted up till April, when J appeared for a
couple of weeks, to the 30th, and then gave
place to M and N, the latter remaining in
exclusive use from 20th July until 31st
December.

Cuba Yi Stamps.

The Weekly Stamp News suggests that
cataloguers should, in future, include
these surcharged stamps under the head-
ing of ' ' Ynterior, or City Delivery
Stamps," as placing them under the
heading of ' ' Issues for Cuba and Puerto
Rico" is misleading, because the said
surcharged stamps were only authorised
to be used within the city of Havana.

Uruguay: Official Decree.

The American Journal of Philately
gives the following translation of the
official decree authorising the issue of
the new Uruguay stamps of 50c, 1 peso,
2 pesos, and '6 pesos : —

NOTICE.

By arrangement of the General Manage-
ment on January 1st, 1896, there will be put
into circulation a new issue of postage stamps
of the following prices : —

$0.50 centesimos, sky blue and black,
1.00 mahogany, brown and black.
2.00 violet and green,
3.00 carmine and sky blue.

Ninety days are allowed from the date
mentioned for the withdrawal from circulation
of those of the same values now in use, the
exchange of these for those of the new issue to
be made within the last ten days of the period
mentioned, all the offices of the department
being authorised to make this operation.

Warning is hereby given that after the
period mentioned postage stamps of the issue
which is being withdrawn will be considered
nul and of no value for the prepayment of
postage.

Montevideo, December 30th, 1895.

The Secretary.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

philatelic Qossip.

The Ecuadorian Pecksniff.

The Government of Ecuador has turned
up its nose at Seebecks, and decided to
have nothing more to do with such bad
company. It is going to start the manu-
facture of rubbish on its own account,
and will begin with a label to com-
memorate an insignificant local squabble.
The manner in which the intended label
is being hawked, must raise Mr. Seebeck
considerably in his own postal opinion.
Ecuador has been invited to cancel the
Seebeck contract, and it has availed itself
of the opportunity of showing that there
are lower postal depths than any that
have been sounded by Mr. Seebeck.

Philatelic Garbage.

A Correspondent of Mekeel's Weekly
Stamp News, has heard of a large collec-
tor in Boston who is quietly speculating
in a small way in those issues which the
S.S.S.S. has tabooed. He reasons that
the time is coming, by-and-by, when, the
speculative fever having died out more or
less, the society will cease to exist, and
the speculative issues will be restored to
good society. When that time comes,
he thinks, they may be hard to get, and
so he is saving some of them now. Of
course, there is no reason why any man
who is bent on the collection of garbage
should not please himself, just as some
industrious scavengers find it pleasant
and profitable to sort over surburban
dustbins. And while the Mekeels provide
the necessary receptacles in the shape of
albums, such collectors will always find
a place to shoot their philatelic garbage.

Stamping Niggers.
A Correspondent in British South
Africa sends the S.C.F. information that
every negro must supply himself with
one of the Company's postage stamps
every month, which he calls a pass ticket.
There was a time when certain sanguine
traders in the great Republic hoped that
postage stamps would be available for
the transit of live stock, that they might,
when desirable, stick a postage stamp on
a jackass for despatch from one state to
another. Eventually B.S.A. has taken
time by the forelock in this direction, so
far ns niggers are concerned. In the

case of a letter, we are instructed to
place the stamp in the right-hand corner.
The S. C. F. does not tell us where it is
placed on a nigger's shining skin.

U.S. Stamps.

The Westminster Gazette which now
and then, as the fit seizes it, poses as a
great Philatelic authority, in a recent
issue says : ' ' The works of art which
American postal authorities grant aie
generally of a nature to render their ob-
literation by the process of cancellation a
result to be striven for as quickly as
possible." That is not kind. Such a
remark may seriously interfere with the
peaceful solution of the Venezuelan
question. As a matter of fact, the
American stamps from the first issue to
the last, even including the Columbians,
are accepted by competent authorities on
art as being far above the average, and
philatelists certainly regard them as
a spendid series of unequalled portraits.

Luxemburg Stamps.

People are getting most obliging to us
stamp collectors. The Luxemburg Minis-
ter of Finance recently declared in the
Chamber that the stamps which have
accumulated since 1880, on Parcel Post
and Money Order Cards, are now being
removed, and will be sold for the benefit
of the pension fund. The stamps in
question are those of 25 centimes and
upwards, and the face value of the lot is
estimated to be about 30,000 francs, or,
roughly speaking, £1,200. As regards
the official service stamp, surcharged
" S.P.," the Minister declared that since
1 887 the sales of these stamps to collec-
tors and dealers amounted to £300 per
annum. Private letters could not be
franked with these stamps, and if out-
siders desired specimens they had to pay
full face value. It was also stated that
there was no truth in the rumour that
plates of the earlier issues of Luxemburg
have been purloined. They were either
destroyed or are still in the hands of the
Government, under lock and key.

This is a move in a perfectly legitimate
direction. What a vista of philatelic
discovery it opens up. It might recom-

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

mend to the attention of Mr. "O.S." Cook,
and our colonies in general.

U.S. Department Stamps.

Mr. Townsend, in the Weekly Philatelic
Era, tells the following interesting story
of the disposal of the U.S. Department
stamps : —

It is well known to most collectors that the
Act of Congress which abolished the use of the
Dept. stamps also declared that all remainders
should be called in and destroyed. Some of the
Depts. questioned the right of Congress to give
such an order ; said they had bought and paid
for the stamps, and Congress had no control
over tbem, so while some Depts. consigned
their remainders to the flames, others have kept
them and dole them out to collectors. The Chief
Clerk of the War Dept. was assigned the task
of disposing of the War stamps, to his disgust,
and to get rid of them, he gave them to anyone
and everyone, without question, many of the
small boys in town getting numbers of sets
each, and he states that he gave away 1000
sets inside of a week. The State Department
intended to do the same thing, but when they
came to put up the stamps, it was found that
all the dollar values had disappeared. There
were known to have been eight of the $5 ones,
and varying amounts of the others. Collectors
here have ever since been on the look-out for
the stamps to turn up, but unsuccessfully until
last week, when one of our boys caught a hue
lot of the $10 and $20 ones, in perfect gummed
condition. But not a $5 one did the man have,
so evidently there was another finger in the
pie, and we are now wondering whether they
have been disposed of long ago by the pirate
who got them, or whether they will still turn
up and paralyse us some time in the future.

An Advertising Dodge.

Here is another good story from the
Era.

In a small Californian town a certain sta-
tionery dealer, by the means of several clerks,
bought up all the stamps from the post-office.
The postmaster was rather puzzled about
whether he ought to sell out his entire stock
or not, and mentioned that the stamps were for
sale for the convenience of the general public,
but he was finally overruled by being asked if
he did not have to sell to whoever called for
them Then, while the confused postmaster-
rustled around and sent in a requisition for
some more stamps, the enterprising stationery
dealer advertised his store as the only place
where stamps could be bought, and everyone
who wanted any had to go to him for the next
two or three weeks. As an advertising
scheme this is hard to beat, but just how the
Post-o ihce Department would look upon such
a transaction is an open question. Let the
philatelic world be thankful that the postmaster
was not sufficiently up to date to scribble his
name across sheets of gummed paper and issue
them as provisionals.

English "Postage Due" Stamps.

The Editor of the Bazaar Philatelist's
Supplement suggests the issue of English
" Postage Due" stamps. Well, we have
no objection. On the contrary, we plump
for the idea as affording a prospect of
getting back in kind the fines we are now
and again compelled to pay for other
people's carelessness. Such an issue could
not be met with the stereotyped reply
that it would add seriously to the ex-
penses of the Department, for we should,
of course, indulge wholesale in the see-
saw game of posting unpaid letters to
each other for the purpose of getting the
otherwise unobtainable stamps at face
value, and the Department would add
our coppers to its revenue with consider-
able glee. But the poor postman, com-
pulsorily turned stamp dealer, minus the
profits, would probably swear vociferously
as he waited at each doorway for the said
coppers.

A Catalogue for Beginners.

We are glad to note that Mr. J. W.
Scott, the veteran dealer of New York,
has had the courage to issue an edition of
his catalogue omitting minor varieties.
This innovation has been met with con-
siderable ridicule, but, all the same, we
give it a hearty welcome as a much-
needed catalogue for young beginners.
Our ordinary catalogues art' rapidly de-
veloping into catalogues prepared by
specialists for specialists, and are, there-
fore, utterly unsuitable as guides for the
young collector.

U.S. Commemorative Stamp.

Mr. Mekeel, commenting in his Weekly
Stamp News on the bill presented to Con -
gress (to which we referred in our January
issue, p. 3), for the issue of commemo-
rative stamps for each city, curiously
enough favours the ridiculous proposal.
He says : —

With the desfre to see a more active interest
among the young, we favour, under certain
conditions, the issuance of the special series of
stamps, suggested in the Pugh bill, which we
understand is to be presented to Congress. Of
course, it would depend materially upon the
manner in which these stamps were brought
into use, but should the different cities be
authorised to issue them as legitimately as the
Columbian issue, by the national Government,
we can see no possible objection, and think that
it would be greatly to the advantage of the
pursuit. Perhaps the most favourable feature
foreshadowed by the bill in question is that the
stamps could be accumulated at a minimum of
expense, and it is the cost of philately, to

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

some extent, that crowds out the youth at the
present time.

The youth of the future is to be pitied
if this is the kind of shoddy that he is to
be encouraged to buy.

A Puttiala Error.

Mr. "Whitfield King has a keen scent for
the needful. He lets us into a little of
his confidence in the Bazaar He was the
first to notice the error A uttialla on the
Puttiala stamps. There was only one
error iti a sheet of 240. He wrote to the
postmaster and asked him if he would
pick out the errors. This he did, and
charged only face-value, though offered a
premium. He had not noticed the error
till his attention was called to it, and
seemed only too pleased to get rid of
them. Mr. Whitfield King got some
thousands of the ^ anna. What an
obliging postmaster he must have been !
And how self-sacrificing ! Thousands !
Say 5000 at 6d. each = £125.

U.S. Plate Number Collecting.

American collectors have recently taken
with great earnestness to the collection
of plate numbers, but the Metropolitan
Philatelic Club of San Antonio waxes
wroth over the business, and has given
voice to its indignation in a series of
resolutions which deserve to be preserved
for ever as undeniable gems of the first
water. Here they are in their pristine
beauty : —

TO THE PHILATELIC PUBLIC IN GENERAL.

Greeting : There having at various times
appeared frauds, faker and speculative stamps
for stamp collector to collect, and the latest
fake and money-making scheme for those who
have them to sell, that, the collecting of plate
numbers of United States Stamps having made
its appearance, a complete collection ot which
is unobtainable by the average collector, and
for the little if any benefit to be derived from
the collecting of the same, the unusefulness and
foolishness connected with it, and the last and
most important, that the same will materially
help to •' kill " collectors of U. S. stamps and
for the benefit of the future of Philately,

Be it Resolved : that this Club, organized
for the promotion of the advancement of
Philately, does hereby declare the collecting of
plate numbers of the stamps of the United

States or any other country with no reference
whatever with Philately, as it has no relation
with the study of any stamp, nor can informa-
tion be gained by the collecting of said plate
numbers.

And be it resolved farther, that this resolution
be filed among the records of this Club, spread
upon its minutes, and that a copy of the same
be sent to the leading philatelic organizations
and publications in the United States.

The New Cyprus.

Has anyone seen the new Cyprus
stamps chronicled on the authority of the
Auxtralia-i Philatelist ? The news has the
impress of probability, but it seems
strange to not a few of us that informa-
tion giving details of this new issue
should reach us first from the Antipodes,
and be so much in advance of the actual
issue itself.

Incorrigible Colonies.

The American Journal of Philately
suggests that the Society for the Sup-
pression of Speculative Stamps should
send a representative to Barbados, and
the following extract from the Demarara
Argosy clearly shows that some inter-
vention will be necessary to induce some
of our Colonies to conduct their postal
arrangements with decency and honesty.
We would suggest that the attention of
our Colonial Minister should be called to
the matter.

Stamp collectors should know what is going
on in "Barbados in the way of a provisional
arrangement. A farthing newspaper postage
rate has been legalized, and, until farthing
adhesive stamps can be imported, the news-
papers will be stamped at the counter " paid at
Barbados." Why don't our neighbours take
the chance to issue a provisional stamp, the
sale of which amongst collectors would be sure
to add to the colony's revenue. As to our own
colony, the time has arrived when we ought to
be running short, especially of all the higher-
grade stamps, and issuing provisionals for each.
The revenue on the 31st of March will be short
of the estimated amount by a very large sum,
and a judicious issue of provisionals would go a
long way, if hot altogether, to meet the deficit ;
and at the same time it wrould add a new
pleasure to the lives of the myriads of persons
whose self-imposed and hard enough duty it is
to provide for and support their stamp-albums.

^r^^^X*^-

SPECULATIVE ISSUES.

Speculative Jssues.

Protest of American Stamp Collectors against Speculative Issues.

As spokesmen for millions of earnest
men who devote their leisure time and
surplus energy and resources to the scien-
tific study and collection of postage
stamps, we, the undersigned representa-
tives of philatelic societies, respectfully
memorialize all enlightened governments
to discountenance certain evil practices
which tend to demoralize and degrade the
postal service.

The evil practices which we condemn
may be classed under three separate
heads, differing more in form, however,
than in substauce, viz. :

(1) Farming out to printers or private specu-
lators, ihe monopoly of balances remaining
after a stamp issue has been withdrawn ; the
temptation and tendency being to withdraw'
the issues prematurely and frequently so as to
m;ike the monopoly more profitable to the
speculator and the official confederates.

(2) Issuing stamps for purely occasional or
provisional use, as a commemorative emblem
rather than for the legitimate purpose of ac-
knowledging prepaid postage ; the tendency
being to degrade the historic value and thereby
destioy the commercial value of the token as a
postage stamp ; and

(3) The reckless or deliberately superfluous
multiplication of unusual varieties of the same
stamp by means of surcharging oftener than the
legitimate needs of the Poot Odice require, the
tendency and temptation being that officials
whose surcharging cannot be controlled will
create new varieties for purely speculative pu?-
poses, accounting to the Government only for
the original values booked against them, and
pocketing the commercial profit.

The stamp that is sold by a private specu-
lator after the Goverument has ceased to control
it, cheapens the product to which it is intended
to give value ; it shakes the confidence of stamp
collectors in all the postal issues of the offending
Government, and it even affects national credit
by creating the impression that the nation is
too poor to raise revenue by legitimate
methods.

But not less offensive, though less deliberately
fraudulent, is the evil practice of issuing com-
memorative paper emblems which masquerade
as postage stamps It is debasing, deprecating
and discrediting the postal currency of any
Government, and subjects its financial methods
to the suspicion of bad faith. Besides, the ease
and frequency with which this commemorative

business can be repeated hold out a bait to
official speculation.

The same danger attaches to the practice of
arbitrary and discretionary surcharging which
enables every petty postmaster to create at will
new varieties of an established issue. The
temptation to exploit this power for private
gain is almost irresistible. For there is no way
to check the operation of surcharging. The
passion for private speculation tends to grow,
and it grows at the expense of official honesty
and industry.

We solemnly protest against all these vicious
methods. We do not ask that our interest as
collectors should be considered as even of inci-
dental importance. We ask that the postal
service be administered without the slightest
regard to our market. The Post Office is a
civilizing agency . we protest against its degra-
dati n to the level of a bargain counter. From
the moment that the postage stamp is con-
sciously made to serve a purpose foreign to its
true character — to prove the prepayment of
postage— be that purpose pious or mercenary,
laudable or disreputable, commemorative or
speculative, it loses its integrity, its value, and
its dignity. And then, even though its sale be
legally authorised, it is nevertheless a masked
fraud, a bastard disguised under an honourable
name.

In the interest, therefore, not only of our
guild, but of all who honour a nation's highest
aims, we plead for a restriction upon the
legalising of these frauds. We ask for a return
to honest methods. It is proper in this con-
nection to say that the Republic of Ecuador,
on receipt of* our respectful memorial, imme-
diately issued a decree —dated November 8,
189-3— cancelling its contract and stopping all
sales of unnei essary stamps.

We appeal for the historical integrity of the
postage stamp, and for national dignity in the
administration of the postal service, as a factor
in the intellectual, social, and moral progress
of all enlightened nations.

The Committee for the suppression of specu-
lative and unnecessary postage stamps: —
William Hekkick, President.
J. II. Rich, Secretary.
M. Andreini. H. E. Deats.

F. W. Hunter.
J. W. Scott.

R. R. BOGERT.

G. B Calman.
Alvah Davison.
Rooms of the Philatelic Society,

25. Ann Street, New York.
February 15. 189D.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

QoTresfpondence.

>**-

Booming New Issues.

SlE, — It seems to me that your corres-
pondent, "W. C. M.," somewhat misses
the mark. If I read my P.J. G.B. aright,
it was not the indiscriminate collecting of
all new issues that was advocated. Even
W. C. M. recommends some of the
" newer English Colonies," and includes
in his list a Protectorate that has
made itself notorious for its absolutely
unnecessary issues of provisionals, sur-
charges in all colours, and all types,
split stamps, diagonal and vertical, and
all the usual abominations, and a more
flagrant offender could scarcely be found.
If this had been a French colony ! "What
an outcry ! But because it is " English,
quite English," it is well worth collecting.

Every fair-minded philatelist will
admit the great interest which attaches
to many new issues — the debatable point
is what to accept and what to reject.
Well, we have the S.S.S.S. for this very
purpose, but unfortunately stamp col-
lectors are invariably pigheaded, and in
some cases they refuse to accept the
dictum of this famous body. As long as
stamp collecting is such a big thing,
speculative issues will never entirely cease.
The only thing to be done is to support
all well-meant efforts for the suppression
of the unnecessary and speculative, and
"educate the masses" by the spread of
knowledge in the shape of journals like
the Record and, others which are doing a
good work, and I heartily recommend
your suggestion about a Journal for
Juveniles to some enterprising would-be
publisher. — Yours faithfully,

W. C. Taylor.

Albums and Speculative Issues.

Sir, — Inasmuch as you have given
space to the communication of " An Old
Grille," referring to us in connection with
albums and speculative issues, we presume
you will admit these lines.

Our albums provide space for all
postage stamps regularly issued for
postage by any government in the world.
We have not eliminated either the
Seebecks or the stamps condemned by
the S.S.S.S., therefore we contend that
there is no inconsistency in our position.

If we issue an album that eliminates

the stamps of the S.S.S.S., we shall
certainly be consistent and eliminate all
other stamps of a similar character,
whether they be Seebecks or others.

Our criticism which you quoted was
simply applied to those dealers who have
taken the high moral ground (?) of
eliminating certain stamps, the collection
of which they discourage, and including
a far worse class of rubbish.

With regard to the production of an
album eliminating all speculative issues, I
would say that we do not believe such a
book is in demand, and have no such
work in contemplation. The printed
album has been practically abandoned
by the intelligent class of philatelists,
because the collection of the stamps of
most of those countries that are guilty of
Seebeckism and the issue of speculative
issues has been practically discontinued ;
therefore, the blank album is more to
their taste.

Printed albums will continue to be
sold to boys and beginners, and as long
as we publish such books they will be
entirely consistent in arrangement ; that
is to say, we will either eliminate all
rubbish and speculative issues, or we will
provide spaces for all stamps regularly
issued for postal purposes.

With regard to the sale of Seebecks,
Chinese locals, or any other stamps, the
same remark will apply, for we have not
joined any S.S.S.S. movement, nor
have we bound ourselves to boycot the
regular postal issues of any country.
Our business is to supply the demands of
our patrons. The demand for Seebecks
has diminished to such an extent that it
is unprofitable to handle them, and we
have advertised such as happened to be
in stock at cost prices to clear them out,
not failing, at the same time, to dis-
courage their collection, and classifying
them as almost worthless rubbish.

For the same reason that we are not
handling Seebecks, we are not handling
some of the rubbish that has been
boycotted by the S.S.S.S.

We do not buy these stamps for stock,
because we consider them of little value,
and unprofitable as an investment ; it is
not because a certain Society has placed
them on their list. — Yours truly,

Chas. H. Mekeel.

NOTABLE STAMPS AT AUCTION.

J^otdble Stamps at Ruction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

6 10 0

CHEVELEY & CO., Feb. 27 and 28, 1896

£ a.

British Guiana, 4c. blue, perf.

12£*

Dominica, Is. carmine. C.A.* two

copies ... ... ... each

Great Britain, the V.R.*

Id. red on Dickinson paper, block

of 6*

Lagos, 10s. purple*...

Nevis, 6d. on bleute

6d. litho. fine, but one corner perf.

gone*

Newfoundland, 4d. orange*

Is. orange ...

Is. carmine-red ...
New South "Wales, Laurcatcd, 2d.,

stars in corners*

•»

Switzerland, Zurich, 4r., one hor.

one vert, lines ; both type 3 each 18
Turks Islands, Is. prune, no perfs.

at top ... 12 10

March 4, 5, and 6, 1896.

Great Britain, 0d. violet,

octagonal* pair 7 0

ditto, 8d. brown* 5 0

ditto, 5s. plate, 4 on bluish* ... 8 0

Spain, 3 cuartos* ...

Geneva, 5c.-f-5c.

Vand, 4c.

Basle, 2jr

Zurich, 4r. hor. lines

Naples, \ tornese, arms
ditto, \ tornese, cross

Saxony, 3 perf.

Ceylon, 4d. rose, irnperf . £15 10s. <fc 1(5 10
ditto, 8d. brown, £21 10s. and 23 10

0 0

15 10

30 0

24 10

5 5

17 10

15 0

5 0

5 5

13 10

Sydney 2d.,
4d. wood

8 0 0

India, \ a. red, pair*

New South Wale
plate I.

Cape of Good Hope

block ({ 5

Gold Coast, 20s. Carmine and green 9 1U

Mauritius, Postpaid Id. vermilion.

£6 10s., £8 5s., £10 10s. and 11 15
ditto, 2d. blue. PENOE error

£13 10s. and 12 0
ditto, 2d. blue £9 15s. and

Natal, 9d. blue, first issue

Transvaal, Id. all caps, sur. in-
verted ...

British Guianv, lc. black on

magenta

ditto, 4c. black on crimson

New Brunswick, Is. violet

Nova Scotia, Is. violet

St. Lucia, Is. orange

St. Vincent, 4d. on Is., on original 12 15
ditto, 5s. wink stir 1(5 0

12
23

19 10

20 10
6 5

5 15 0

HAD LOW, Feb. 24, 1896.

£ s. d.
New Zealand, Id. brown, N.Z.

wmk , 14 10 0

PUTTICK & SIMPSON, Feb. 24, 1896.

Buenos Ayres, 3 pesos, green ... 5 10 0

Cape, wood block, Id. blue, mended 25 10 0

ditto, do., do., damaged 18 10 0

Columbia (1863), 50c. red (error)... 17 1 0

March 2 and 3, 1896.

Nova Scotia, Is. violet

British Guiana (1851), lc. magenta

ditto (1856), 4c. crimson
Cape of Good Hope, 4d. dark blue
Ceylon, 4d. rose, imperf

ditto, 8d. brown, imperf

Gold Coast, 20s. green and rose*...

India, £ red, pair

Mauritius, postpaid Id. on yellowish,

early

ditto, Id, on bluish, early, £8 5s. k

ditto, medium, early

ditto, 2d. early, £(J 15s. and

ditto, 2d. PENOE, early £12 and
Naples, ^t. blue, arms

ditto, |t. blue cross

Natal, first issue, 9d. blue...

Nevis, 6d. green*

New Brunswick, Is. violet

18 0

5 10

21 10

6 5

16 10

23 10

0 10

13 10

11 15

10 10

6 10

12 0

13 0

15 0

5 0

23 0

9 10

19 10

VENT0M, BULL & COOPER, Feb. 25 & 26,
1896.

Canada, lOd. blue*

France, 1 franc, orange
Spain (1852), 2 reales red, pair on
original

6 10
9 0

22 0 0

BUHL & Co., Limited, March 26 & 27, 1896.

Great Britain, 5s. rose plate 4* ... 8 8 0
British Guiana, 1862, provisional

1 c. with border of grapes ... 7 lu 0
St. Lucia, 1885, Is. red-brown, a

Pair 12 15 0

Tobago, 1882, 6d. ochre, C.A. ... 10 0 0

WM. RID0UT, March 20th, 189F

Tuscany, 2 soldi

Moldavia, 54 paras

ditto, 108 paras 31

St.Vinceni 5s. star wink 17 10

ditto, 4d. on Is.* .. ... .. i-> 0

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

j^O (^OTTOS^OTidoritQ.

Editorial Communications.

All communications on Editorial matters should
be addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J
Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Letters
enclosing valuables should be registered.

New Issues.

aceompany the information, which must be ad-
dressed to the Editor, as above. Copies of official
decrees and circulars in reference to postal changes
are particularly requested.

Exchanges.

We shall be glad to exchange two copies with
each of our leading contemporaries j one copy
should be posted to our publishers and the other
to the Editorial address as above.

Subscriptions.

Our Advertisement Rates.— Price per Insertion, net.

Single.

3 months.

6 niuiKhs.

12 months.

Whole Page

£3 ° °
1140
120

£z 16 0

1 10 0
1 0 0

£z 12 6

170
0 18 0

£240
140
0 15 0

Half Page

Small Advertisements — 5/- per inch, in double column, prepaid.

Accounts for a series payable quarterly. Single insertion payable in advance.

CHARLES JONES. PRINTER. LONDON

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News,

APRIL, 1896.

Qditorial J^otes.

HERE is a very considerable and growing demand for another
general public Exhibition of Postage Stamps. At every successive
exhibition at the rooms of the Philatelic Society of London, dealers,
one and all, have urged their need of another General Public
Exhibitionof Postage Stamps. " Your Exhibitions," they have said,
"are for specialists, and are confined to your own members.
Neither dealers nor outside collectors can participate. We are free to admire,
and we do admire, the grand collections of the members of the great society.
Wanted ^ut tnat *s not enou£n- Despite your undoubted hospitality
, we are out in the cold. Why not get up another General Exhi-

G , bition, such as you held in 1890 in Baker Street ? " Aye, there's
Ph*l t r ^e ruk ' ^ ^s easy enougn to talk about getting up great
Exhib't' Exhibitions, but it is quite another matter to do the work.

Since the Exhibition of 1890 there have been plenty of pro-
posals, but no one has come forward to do the work. One journal after another
has endeavoured to get up the necessary enthusiasm for another show. But
they have been whipping tired horses. Those who did the work in 1890 were
not ready to face another such task, nor are they now, without substantial help.
Indeed, we believe the general feeling still is that dealers should shoulder the
burden of the next Exhibition with the help of the old workers ; or, that it
should be a combined effort, in which the work and the kudos should fall to the
share of collectors and dealers, in more or less equal proportions.

The cordial relations which have always existed between the premier society
and the leading dealers of the metropolis and the provinces, have of late been
cemented by common action in the revolt which has taken place against specu-
lators and unnecessary stamps. In whatever direction we look we are afforded
the most convincing proofs that the interests of collectors and dealers are so
interwoven that we form a philatelic fraternity in which we have everything to
gain and nothing to lose, by community of action. Therefore, the next Exhi-
bition should be the result of a combination of collectors and dealers.

A sufficient time has elapsed since the last great Exhibition to justify the
anticipation that another, if attempted within the next for months, would be

94 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

even more successful. Since 1890 great strides have been made in the bulking
up of grand collections, and there is little doubt that, as a show, any general
Exhibition that may now be ventured upon will far surpass anything ever before
attempted in this country, or any other, in the matter of completeness. The
last six years have been characterised by remarkable developments in the direc-
tion of specialism. Collectors have narrowed and concentrated their powers
of collection, with the result that nothing now-a-days escapes the keen scrutiny
of the specialist. In the scientific study and arrangement of a country's postal
issues we are undoubtedly far in advance of the work done up to 1890. Indeed,
all along the line there has been a general advance in the methods of collection
and arrangement. Latter day fastidiousness in the accumulation of immaculate
specimens, and of grand ranges of shades, particularly in the massing of stamps
in an unused condition, will go far to render our next Exhibition an eye-opener
to the average collector.

So far, then, as the necessary materials are concerned, there is not likely to
be any lack of the needful in that direction, nor is there any question as to the
welcome which would greet a definite announcement that another long-desired
general Exhibition on a large scale has been decided on.

We wait only for someone to lead the way. Some of those who did so
much to win success for the 1890 Exhibition are more than half persuaded to
go into harness again. We would, therefore, suggest that collectors and dealers
should forthwith appoint Committees to meet and discuss the pros and cons
for another general Exhibition, and to ascertain what financial help can be
obtained. Without a substantial guarantee in money matters it would be very
hazardous to embark on the undertaking. A Committee hide-bound for want
of funds would be crippled disastrously. Hence, a large sum for even pre-
liminary expenses will be necessary to ensure success. Will this be forthcoming ?
On the Continent, we are told, they manage these things better than we do in
this country. They ask for guarantees to the limit of possible expenditure, and
then they issue bonds to each guarantor to the amount of his guarantee ; and
if, at the close of the Exhibition, when all accounts are paid, there is a surplus,
that surplus is divided amongst the guarantors by way of dividend. We are
accustomed to discuss deficits in such matters, but we are assured that, when
properly managed, philatelic exhibitions on the Continent result not only in
the return of moneys advanced by the guarantors, but also in substantial
dividends.

Here we leave the suggestion for the time, merely adding, by way of
encouragement to the unbelieving, that more than one influential " Barkis is
willin' " and that signs in that direction during the next few weeks will not be
confined to the Philatelic Record.

T j- -04., Our Indian confreres seem to havejmany and various complaints
Indian Postal . , . _. . . -\ ,, • \ c _

Annoyances against tneir Postal authorities, so much so that, viewed from
the old country, the Post Office, instead of being an unmixed
good, seems to be converted into an instrument for testing the patience and
temper of all who are forced to avail themselves of its services. We have
already alluded to the manner in which the Post Office has been used by the
Customs authorities for levying an infamous tax on the full value of goods sent
on approval for selection. Our excellent contemporary, the Philatelic World,
now exposes another and most inexcusable practice, in which the Post Office
itself seems to be solely to blame. The Postal Department, we are told, is in
the habit '■ of running thread through registered matter committed to its care,"
and the Philatelic World says, "most of us have suffered from this unpleasing
little whim." Little whim indeed ! When the little whim is exercised in the
boring of holes and passing thread through valuable stamps sent in registered
letters it is time that stamp merchants at home who have dealings through the

EDITORIAL NOTES. 95

Indian Post Office should unite in drawing the attention of the Secretary of
State for India to this idiotic destruction of property sent through the Indian
Post Office. We have no doubt such a representation, backed by the evidence
of a few samples of such perforation, would be effective in putting a stop to
such a senseless practice.

Some wiseacres seem inclined to run their heads against the
th. s s S S S.S.S.S. because, forsooth, it is between the devil and the deep
sea in the matter of condemning all commemorative issues, and
because it has mistaken the idiotic freaks of his Tongan Majesty for a little
cunning speculation. Now, it is well to recognise the fact that the question
of commemorative issues is an extremely difficult one to deal with. It is
unfortunately conceivable that there may be honestly issued commemorative
stamps, but we have on the other hand ample evidence that the commemorative
stamp is in nearly every instance only a means to an end, and that end is the
pocket of the stamp collector.

If the stamp collector does not wish to be warned, and to be protected
against such impostors, let him say so. Up to the present we have seen no
indication that the genuine stamp collector is not grateful for the revolt which has
found such effective voice in the circulars of the S.S.S.S. The future of stamp
collecting and the prosperity of stamp dealing, especially in new issues, is
much more closely bound up in the continued activity of the S.S.S.S. than
many people seem to imagine.

MekeeVs Weekly gives illustrations of nine labels of an intended
further commemorative issue. This time the event to be com-
p eg memorated is the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery,

in 1497, of the Cape route to India, and the issue will, of course,
take place next year. These commemorative issues of Portugal, are so clearly
of an unnecessary and speculative cast that there will be no difficulty in their
being included in the S.S.S.S list. It is true it is hard to always draw the line,
even in commemorative issues, in the case of stamps placed on general and
unrestricted sale for postal purposes, but the cure will come in one of two ways.
If the Postal Union Congress, to be held next year, acts upon the invitation to
bar all commemorative issues, such issues will at once be relegated to the
position of local stamps, and those who include locals will take their choice,
but there will be no further excuse for including them in an ordinary collection
of postage stamps. The other cure will be the boycott, which will assuredly
make itself felt, in the wise measure of ceasing to collect the offending countries
after a certain date, which will stop short of all commemorative labels. It is
a thousand pities that such an old philatelic favourite as Portugal should be so
bent upon courting neglect. Admittedly it is very hard up financially, and there
might be much excuse for a frequent change of issues, but this blatant,
undisguised manufacture of gaudy labels for collectors, will be resented and
repudiated, and Portugal will be relegated to the effective cure of neglect.

96 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

ffirst Jssuo of l^ostom Australia.

By Lipman E, Hush.

MONG the earlier stamps of Western Australia I am of opinion
that there is still much to be discovered ; it is with the idea of
rousing others, who may have more opportunities than I have,
to investigate and unearth what at present is hidden from us.

Literature on the stamps of the Colony is incomplete and
incorrect. Lately the London Philatelist has had some excellent
papers, and what I have to write will, I hope, supplement them.

At present, it is generally thought that there are no " minor" varieties of
the first One Shilling. It will be remembered that Mr. W. T. Wilson was
fortunate in obtaining two large blocks of the first Fourpence, which clearly
showed that there were many minor varieties of that value due to the process
of lithography, and I see no reason why the same might not be the case with
the first One Shilling. I have noticed in one of a pair that whilst all the
lettering of the inscription was fairly equal, the other stamp showed marked
differences noticeable chiefly in the two LLs of Shilling, which were much
smaller than any of the other letters. In other specimens I have noticed
many minor varieties in the lettering.

In the stamp of the value of Twopence, which has so far been the most
neglected of all the W. Australian stamps, there is much to study and much
to be found out. It is generally described as " Brown on red. Indian red or
orange red," the reason for this is sheer neglect. Once the stamp is examined
with a lens the error of this description is apparent. I have always been of
the opinion that this stamp was printed in bronze, varying in shade from gold
to copper on white paper watermarked a swan upright, and an overprint was
added to distinguish it from the first sixpence. The overprint is in red.
Indian red or orange red. The bronze soon loses its lustre, as is easily seen
in the sixpence, and the process of " deoxidising" darkens the colour.

It is also thought that the border of the Sixpence was merely altered in
the lower label, and Twopence was substituted for Sixpence. This is also
erroneous. The border of the Twopence consists of two parts which I will
describe as (a) inner border (b) outer border. The inner border is a thick
border measuring 3I m.m. in width and bearing upon it the words — (l)
Western, (t) Postage, (r) Australia, (b) Twopence, in block letters.

The outer border is a thin border entirely surrounding this, and is perfectly
plain or solid.

The size of the stamp is 24J m.m. x 20J m.m.

The first sixpence differs from the first twopence in two points (a) size,
(b) borders.

The size is 23^ x 20J m.m.

Its borders are three in number, which I will call —

(a) inner (b) middle (c) outer.

The inner border is a thin solid border encircling the central design.

The middle border is the thickest, and contains the inscription — (l)
Western, (r) Australia, (x) Postage, (b) Sixpence.

The outer border surrounds this, and is, like the inner one, plain.

The width of the border is 3^ m.m.

(a) measures about J m.m.

(b) „ „ 3 m.m.

NOTES ON NEVIS. 97

The date of issue of the above stamps is a matter of conjecture so far.
I am of opinion that the first One Penny, Fourpence, and One Shilling were
issued on August 1st, 1854.

From the rates of postage in force at that date, I think that the necessity
of stamps of the value of Twopence and Sixpence was soon felt, and so they
may have been issued in 1854 or 1&55- I do not think the Postmaster-
General of the Colony would allow stamps of the value of One Penny or
Fourpence to be used in such great quantities, as they must have been in the
absence of the Twopence and Sixpence values, for any length of time. It is
known that the stamps were lithographed in the Colony, and that in 1854 the
Government lithographer resigned his appointment and was succeeded by Mr.
A. Hillman. To this latter gentleman I think we are indebted for the
stamps of the new design, and it was probably before the end of the year
that he produced them. Anyhow, it is unlikely that the first lithographer
(Mr. Horace Samson) should take the centre similar to that of the One-
penny, and from it produce the Fourpence and Shilling similarly, and
have: an altogether new design for the values of Twopence and Sixpence;
or that Mr. Hillman should provide a Twopence and Sixpence of an
entirely new design, and then revert to the old one for the One Shilling
stamp.

It is also more than likely that the new comer desired to " win his
spurs " and show what he could do.

I should therefore affix the following dates to the stamps of the first
issue : —

Angus/ is/, 1854. imperf. ivmk. a swan.

One Penny black.

Fourpence blue shades.

One Shilling brown shades.

I854—55-

Twopence Bronze and red shades.

Sixpence Bronze.

J^fotos on J^qvis and £>t. J\itts.

By Douglas Mackenzie.

N the Philatelist's Supplement issued with the Bazaar of 25th inst.,
" Some West Indian Notes," appear by Mr. J. R. F. Turner, and
the countries dealt with are Nevis and St. Christopher.

In dealing with Nevis he states that, "as all the issues are absolutely
clear of anything in the shape of a surcharge, besides being now
obsolete, their claims on philatelists are second to none."
How about the Provisional issue of 1882 ? Has Mr. Turner overlooked
it ? These hand-stamped provisionals with their black and purple surcharges
reading upwards and downwards, also with double surcharges, on right and
left side of the stamps, I have always considered, the one blot on the other-
wise clean escutcheon of this island, and the only easy opportunity to afford
" fakers" of reaping a harvest from its postal issues, and one of which I regret
to say, they were not slow to avail themselves.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

In referring to the present prices of Nevis stamps,, Mr. Turner informs us
that, in his opinion, they are exorbitantly listed, and to prove his statement
says that, judging by the numbers which appear in Auction Catalogues, these
stamps exist in much larger quantities than is generally supposed. The best
proof that the prices are not exorbitant, is that in spite of the " large numbers "
which are sold by auction, the stamps always fetch full prices, clearly showing
that the demand is greater than the supply.

While not agreeing with Mr. Turner that the prices of the early issues are
exorbitant, I must, however, admit that the remainder of the C.A. issues
are too highly listed, and I consider that we are pretty certain to see a fall in
the prices now asked for them.

Judging from Mr. Turner's remarks re the one shilling purple, it is
evident he considers it is still available for postage, as he says that " some on
letters will doubtless soon reach these shores." I hardly think this at all
likely, as at the time the Leeward Islands remainders were withdrawn from
use I was informed on very good authority that the stamps ceased to be
available for postal purposes. I understand, however, that Mr. Thompson,
the purchaser of the remainders, is not quite satisfied on the point, and that
so far he has been unable to get any definite answer from the Government
authorities as to whether the stamps are demonitized.

In writing of the stamps of St. Christopher (commonly called St. Kitts),
Mr. Turner says that the id. or 2-Jd., small surcharge, is its rarest stamp.
Although this is undoubtedly a scarce stamp, it is by no means rarer than
the id. or 2^d. large surcharge reversed. I am unaware whether it has ever
been published that only one sheet of 20 stamps of each of these varieties
was printed, but I was informed of the fact at the time by the Postmaster (the
late Mr. France), who very kindly sent me one of each of these specimens.
The small surcharge can really be looked upon as a proof, as the Postmaster
when sending me the specimen wrote " the small surcharge was tried first but
not pleasing, the larger one was adopted as being clearer." On the sheet
margin of the specimen sent me the large type surcharge is printed, and as
this was done for comparison I cannot but look upon the small surcharge
otherwise than as a trial print. It has been largely forged, and many more
copies than the original 20 copies are now in existence. I have never seen
used specimens of either of these two surcharges, which had been properly
authenticated.

The Antigua stamps used in St. Kitts, during a temporary dearth of
stamps in that island, are very interesting, and should most certainly be
collected in conjunction with the other issues of St. Kitts. A fact which has
escaped the notice of philatelists in general is, that before the necessary
authority was obtained to use these stamps, the postal authorities in St
Kitts had to resort to franking all letters during the^months of October and

November, 1889, with a circular hand stamp lettered ) which was

applied on the top right-hand corner of the envelopes, the ordinary postmark
of the island being afterwards stamped on the envelopes in addition. As this
"frank" was used for foreign, as well as inter-colonial correspondence, I
should have thought that authority would have been obtained to use other
values of Antiguan stamps, but so far, I have not been able to find this was
done, and the one penny value, is the only stamp of Antigua, I have ever
received on letters from St. Kitts These envelopes are also surely of great
interest, yet they are not generally collected, as many philatelists, I fear, are
not aware of their existence.

OBSOLETE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

As it may perhaps be of interest to your readers, I herewith give a list of
the Leeward Islands remainders, taken from the Government form inviting
the tenders, which shows the exact number of the various stamps offered for
sale : —

STAMPS. CARDS.

IS.

6d.

4d.

2jd.

id.

Antigua

1387

6300

38464

26009

1 1 0749

41084

St. Kitts

1580

2505

29122

13944

42631

36821

Nevis

H57

2944

4332

5045

5872

7227

Dominica

1428

3608

9498

9238

19290

18807

Montserrat

1166

7232

4977

5463

5437

Virgin

Islands

3801

6408

8746

10007

38969

17364

id.

2d.

3d.

2224

2324

2372

1628

2020

2058

1006

663

IO3O

985

9^3

1 164

188

204

759

461

737

2988

1668

The total face value is ^4788 odd.

Qhsofate J^ooiDard Jslands.

OME time since one of our American contemporaries ridiculed the
high prices paid for used copies of many of the obsolete stamps of the
Leeward Islands, and backed its opinion by the assertion that, as
a matter of fact, the stamps were still available for postage. As
there seemed to be considerable doubt on this latter point, a
member of the Philatelic Society of London wrote to the post-
masters of each of the Islands for information, with the following results : —

The Postmaster of St. Kitts replied on the 25th March, 1896, as follows : —

Your letter of the 10th ult., came duly to hand, and I regret being unable to
reply to it ere this, but I could not do so till the matter was decided by the Govern-
ment, to whom your letter was referred.

The obsolete Leeward Islands stamps were in the several presidencies available for
postage till June, 1894, when an order was issued to the several Postmasters to refuse
10 accept them in future. This order I received on the oth June, 1894, and since
then I have always refused to accept them either in payment of postage, or to cancel
them for dealers or collectors. The Government has, however, now instructed me not
to receive the St. Kitts stamps inpayment of postage, or to cancel them for collectors ;
but I am also instructed to cancel them in such a manner, as to render them of little
or no value to collectors or dealers, as these stamps would only be so used for the
purpose of being passed through the post, and thus increasing their value.

The Postmistress of Nevis replied on the 28th February, 1896, as follows: —

Your letter of 10th inst. reached me in due course. In reply I beg to state that
the Nevis Postage stamps have been withdrawn by the Government (and consequently
have become obsolete). The Leeward Islands stamps only are available for postage.

The Postmaster of Dominica replied on the 3rd March, 1896, as follows : —

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of yours of 10th ult , and beg to
say in reply that the " Dominica " stamps, of all values, were withdrawn from
circulation in 1890, and ceased from that period to be current for postage purposes.
I shall bo happy at all times to afford you any information in my power.

ioo THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

^tamps of Jmypoverishod States.

By Edward J. Nankivell.

ERHAPS it is just as well to candidly recognise the fact, that it is
next to impossible to effectively protect our philatelic pockets
from systematic pickings on the part of poverty-stricken States.
There are some parasites that cannot be removed, but must be
endured. And we very much fear that the poverty-stricken State
with a keen eye on the philatelic pocket, is one of those inevitable
parasites. On the one hand is the almost empty exchequer, and on the other
hand is the well-filled philatelic purse. A postage stamp is an effective ticket
of admission for a dip into the philatelic pocket, and the more impoverished
the exchequer, the more often is it tempted to audaciously print a fresh supply
of tickets of admission for further dips. For years we philatelists have been
crying out, " Have a dip ! Have a dip ! Penny dips ! Twopenny dips !
Threepenny dips ! Fourpermy dips," and so on, up to £5 dips ! and shortly
we are to have farthing dips. Till at last it is a recognised business. So long
as we got a convertible quid pro quo we did not mind, but we now find that
we are getting such a lot of shoddy that is not convertible into a quid pro quo,
that we naturally cry out that we won't play the game any longer. Con-
sequently, the question now arises, what is to be done ? The poverty stricken
state having enjoyed so many dips in the past, is not to be choked off. We
have no objection to continue the business of the dips, if we can have some
rational, fair and square arrangement. And we are inclined to believe that
some arrangement may be arrived at which shall be mutually beneficial. Why
not compromise matters a bit ? Let impoverished States that must be helped
from our philatelic pockets, on their side, agree to discontinue the manufacture
of commemorative rubbish, and all arrangements for the s\stematic sale of
remainders a la Seebeck, and let us on our side raise no philatelic objection to
an annual change of issues, provided they do not exceed the ordinary postal
requirements of a well-ordered State. Such an annual issue would generate
philatelic interest, and would, in the long run, bring far more money to needy
exchequers, than the spasmodic issue of commemorative shoddy. For years
Spain annually changed its postage stamps, and stamp collectors looked
forward from year to year, with unalloyed interest to the " new Spanish," and
there would be no objection to-day to annual issues, even of Seebecks, if they
were free from the hawking about of remainders. We commend this suggestion
to the careful attention of all States which feel the need of help from the
philatelic purse. We have no objection to maintain a few States, or to con-
tribute to the maintenance of a few tottering thrones here and there, but it is
only fair, that in such an undertaking, some consideration should be extended
to our sentimental idiosyncracies. We are not over exacting, we are only
asking for genuine postal issues, and those we are willing to buy with a
generosity that cannot fail to provide the needful funds for many an
impoverished exchequer.

Failing some such arrangement as this, we shall have to go on cutting each
others' throats. We shall have to boycot the issues of those States which will
not come to terms, and thus at the same time deprive ourselves of the
pleasure we should otherwise seek, in studying the postal developments of
countries that should be full of interest for us. There is really no occasion
for us to quarrel. We have the funds and we are willing to help those who
will act honestlv in return. Hitherto, we believe the States, to whom we

STAMPS OF IMPOVERISHED STATES. 101

address this appeal, have jeopardised their own financial interests by listening
to ignorant advisers. Let them come to terms with us philatelists, from whom
the}' wish to draw their funds, and be guided by us as to what is wanted in
return, and then all will be well.

It is time that the stupid fallacy was exploded, that stamp collectors are
overjoyed over the appearance of every new issue. Ignorant advisers acting
upon this fallacy, have persuaded needy States to enter into the business as one
of supply and demand. "These philatelists," they have urged, "have more
money than wit ; they are wealthy ' soft Tommies ' that you can draw upon
' at sight' to an unlimited extent. You cannot fail to have noticed that the
bulk of your postage stamps are sold to stamp collectors. That being so, it
is surely worth your while to cultivate so profitable a source of revenue.
They will buy your bits of paper, that cost you a mere nothing, and ask you
for no postal service in return." So far the argument keeps within the
boundaries of truth, but there has been a false deduction from these facts, for the
would-be advisers proceeded to recommend the manufacture of commemorative
rubbish, to tempt the philatelic palate, and one, who posed as a philatelist
said, " you give me your contract for the manufacture of your stamps, and I
will provide you free with all you need for your postal services if you will
permit me to print and sell remainders to stamp collectors." And so the
manufacture of stamps for sale to collectors has proceeded briskly, postal
needs dropping into a very secondary back-ground consideration. Hence,
stamp collectors soon found that they were buying immense quantities of
miniature picture labels, that had but a very slender connection with the postal
requirements of the manufacturing States. The disgust engendered by this
discovery generated the revolt which led to the formation of the Society for
the Suppression of Speculative Stamps. Already the S.S.S.S. has diminished
the revenue of many a needy State by thousands of pounds, and unless those
States come to terms, and confine their issues of postage stamps to genuine
postal needs, with the old freedom to the stamp collector to buy such as he
may require in the ordinary way, they will find that they have foolishly cut off
a very expansive and lucrative source of revenue.

Therefore, in the mutual interests of needy stamp-issuing countries on the
one hand, and of stamp collectors on the other, we come back to our proposal
that more profit may be made out of honest, annual, genuine postal issues,
than out of commemorative issues, or the sale of remainders. We are not
anxious to see many annuals, and we only suggest them as a choice of evils.
It is a compromise that would, in all probability, be heartily welcomed by all
who wish well to the spread of stamp collecting.

Some people may possibly consider that in this suggestion we are opening
the flood gates to speculative governments. We hope not Our suggestion is
that they should confine themselves to genuine postal issues, and we have
endeavoured to prove that they can do this, and at the same time improve,
rather than diminish, their revenue from the sale of postage stamps. As we
have stated, the annual issues of Spain were welcomed by philatelists, and we
believe that an honest annual issue by the Seebeck States, of postage stamps
freed from the sale of remainders, and the undue multiplication of values not
required for genuine postal purposes, would stimulate the collection of the
stamps of those countries which are now so largely boycotted by stamp
collectors.

io2 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

^ubQck Qrror of 1859.

MONG the errors of the stamps of the smaller German States, the
most interesting one, without doubt, is the Lubeck stamp of 1859,
2-i- schilling red-brown, instead of 2 schilling red-brown.

The meaning of the word error, as applied to postage stamps,

is explained differently by different authorities. By that name,

I understand, in the first place, impressions taken from plates that

have a mistake of engraving, and in the second place, stamps that are printed

in one colour instead of another.

That is to say that I do not count among errors, stamps which, by some
accident, show some slight mistakes in one or two specimens : these may be
collected as curiosities, but they should be called mutilated specimens rather
than errors (see, for example, the 2d. and 3d. issues of Oldenburg, upon which
the name of the country sometimes appears to be spelled with letters that do
not belong to it)

Nor do I think that, among our German stamps, we can reckon as errors,
stamps that are in circulation in an unperforated state, when they should be
perforated. In that case, they are evidently stamps that were issued in haste,
before they were quite ready, like the 3 kreuzer rose of Baden. In their
design and in their colour they differ in no wise from the more correct
specimens. If we stick to the true meaning of the word error, we cannot
place among them the stamps that have a different watermark from the rest
of the issue as, for example, Hanover, Number 1, with watermark.

But those stamps which, by mistake, are printed in the wrong colour are
errors ; in that case we have to do with specimens which have gone through
all the single processes of printing, only that they were not printed in that
particular colour which had been selected for them, so that they differ in that
from all the other corresponding values of the same issue. This mistake may
occur from the fact that, in preparing the different values of one issue, one or
two sheets of one of the denominations was passed by mistake under
the presses charged with the colour for another stamp, or it may occur in
stamps of more than one colour, when the colour prepared for a certain part of
the stamp was applied by mistake to the other part, and vice versa. To the
first class belongs the well-known error of Saxony, 1851, '52, \ Neu Groschen,
bright blue, instead of grey, printed in the colour of the bright blue, 2 Neu
Groschen ; and also the 9 kreuzer of Baden, 1851, green instead of violet,
printed in the colour of the 6 kreuzer, green, of the same issue ; this error has
been discovered quite lately. To the second class belong the Heligoland error
of 1873, the \ schilling, which shows a red oval and a green frame, instead
of a green oval and a red frame.

But the most striking and most peculiar of errors are those originating from
impressions being taken from imperfect plates ; the stamps then slipped through
unnoticed, or for some reason, they are quietly suffered to circulate, although
their error has been discovered. Well known among this class are the errors
of Bergedorf, 1861, 1^ Schillinge, black on yellow, instead of i\ Schilling ; and
Bremen, 1885, i860, 5 Grote black on rose with the inscription " Franko-
Marken " instead of " Franko-Marke." Neither of these errors, however, have
been officially put in circulation.

But the stamp which answers best to our idea of error is the stamp of
Lubeck with the inscription in letters : " Zwei ein halb Schilling" (21 schil-
ling), while at the same time it bears, in figures, the value 2 schilling : these
stamps have been used postally for quite a while. In 1858, when the stamps

LUBECK ERROR OF 1859. 103

of Lubeck were to be introduced, the firm of H. G. Rathgens were instructed
to manufacture them. The first issue, which altogether amounted to 4000
sheets of 100 stamps each, consisted of five values : \ schilling, lilac ; 1
schilling, reddish-yellow ; 2 schilling, red-brown ; i\ schilling, rose, and
4 schilling, green.

These stamps were produced in the following manner. After the design
had been decided on by the Lubeck Postal Department, one original die was
made for each value. From these, and by the means of japanned paper, they
took 100 copies in order to be able to prepare sheets of 100 stamps, 10 rows
of 10 stamps each. These 100 copies were arranged together like a mosaic,
resulting in a complete table ; this was afterwards reproduced upon a stone
which formed the printing plate. From this plate all impressions were taken,
and it is evident that by this process there can be absolutely no varieties or
differences of type, especially as accidental small mistakes could easily be
removed from the plate before its use by slight retouchings.

According to official documents the following number of stamps were
printed : —

400 sheets of 100 stamps of the \ Schilling.

200 sheets of 100 stamps of the 1 Schilling.

About 1400 sheets of 100 stamps of the 2 Schilling.

500 sheets of 100 stamps of the i\ Schilling.

1500 sheets of the 100 stamps of the 4 Schilling.

They were issued gradually as needed. About three years later 1,100 and
500 sheets of the two lowest denominations were again printed, but on different
paper. Now the curious fact took place that upon the sheets of the schilling
stamps an error appeared, repeated twice ; the stamps affected are the 6th and
7th of the last row, that is to say, the 96th and 97th of the whole plate. Here
we see side by side two stamps, which, although they have exactly the same
red-brown colour of the balance of the sheet, still deserve in full to be looked
upon as errors. These two stamps, upon the left scroll, bear, in letters, the
inscription, "Zwei ein halb " (2^), while upon the four corners the indicated
value is 2.

I remember very well that about in the year 1868, a gentleman who enjoyed
the reputation of being an authority on stamps, had explained this error by
saying that the engraver had, by mistake, engraved " Zwei ein halb " in pre-
paring the plate. At that time this explanation had satisfied me fully ; nobody
said anything about a second error, and it is probable that it remained unknown
to most connoisseurs until lately. But if we bear in mind the way in which
the plate was prepared, and which I have described above, we will understand
that it is impossible for this error to have originated in that manner. Nor is
it possible to admit that such a serious error should owe its existence to
probable after retouches of the plate ; such a supposition would surmise a
temporary aberration of mind on the part of the workman. But we believe
that the facts of the case were about in this wise. It must have been in pre-
paring the too copies from the original engraving, for future reproduction upon
a stone, that, by mistake, two of the copies of the i\ schilling crept among
those of 2 schilling. It is known that the 5 values of the issue were manu-
factured at the same time ; therefore the copies of all of them, 500 in number,
must have been together near the workman, and it may easily be understood
how his hand got hold of two of the wrong ones. It is not known, at least
not to me, who discovered the error, and why it was only in part corrected.
I think, however, that it remained unnoticed by any member of the Rathgens
firm, and that it also escaped being detected by any of the committee who
examined the essays and proofs. In the last minute, however, somebody must
have suddenly become aware of it ; time, unfortunately was wanting for a
thorough change, which, moreover, would have been very costly. So they

io4 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

went to work to remedy the difficulty as best they might. The correction
consisted in hastily removing the 2^ from the four corners and substituting a
2 in its place. The inscription on the left scroll, being in letters, was too long
and could not be changed, and so one of the queerest of all errors was put in
circulation. We have seen that not quite 1,400 sheets of the 2 schilling were
printed ; as there are only two errors in each sheet, the total number of errors
will fall a little short of 2,800. Postally used specimens of this stamp form one
of the greatest rarities of philately. I have been unable to determine exactly
how many sheets remained on hand at the post-office, but I have reasons to
believe that it was a not unimportant number ; most errors now in collections
came from this stock on hand. This I know to be a fact, because these errors
are almost without exception unprovided with gum, and because I learned
from a member of the Rathgens firm that they had not delivered all the stamps
at one time, and gummed. On the contrary, they were in the habit of remitting
small quantities to the authorities, as the stamps became needed, and they only
kept in stock a small number of sheets gummed in advance. — Translated from
the German by Prof. G. Raymond.

grange firoc £tate Jssxzes.

(From the South African Philatelist.')

HE Orange Free State is bounded on the North by the South African
Republic, on the East by Natal and British Basutoland, on the
South by the Orange River, and on the West by the South African
Republic and Griqualand West. The area is 70,000 square miles,
and the population, according to the census taken in March, 1890,
is 207,503, of which 77,716 are white, and 129,787 coloured.
Up to 1854 the Orange Free State was a British Colony under a separate
government. On the 23rd of February of that year the Sovereignty was
abandoned by a convention executed at Bloemfontein, owing to the Imperial
Government not considering it worth the expenditure. The Volksraad (Par-
liament) assembled in April, 1854, and shortly afterwards Mr. J. P. Roffhan
was elected first President of the Republic. The ex-President, Mr. Reitz,
resigned in December, 1895, owing to ill health, and pending the election of a
President, Mr. P. J. Blignaut, the Government Secretary, is Acting President.
In February, 1868, the first issue of the stamps took place, consisting of
three values, viz. — ip. brown, 6p. rose, and is. orange. The design being an
orange tree loaded with fruit, and three post horns on back-ground consisting of
86 horizontal coloured lines, within a rectangle measuring 13mm by i6jmm.
On sides " Oranje Vrij Staat (Orange Free State). Below, value. The whole
design is enclosed within a rectangle consisting of two lines, the outer being
heavier than the inner line, and measuring i8|mm by 22|mm. Printed on
un watermarked wove paper. Perforated 14.

In 1887 the necessity for a 4d. stamp was felt, and pending the arrival of
the permanent stamp of that denomination the 6d. value was surcharged with
the numeral " 4 " in five different types in as many sizes. The surcharge with
a large numeral " 4" being the scarcest. Inverted surcharges also exist.

In 1878 the permanent 4c!. arrived, being the same type as that of 1868,
the colour being; blue.

ORANGE FREE STATE ISSUES. 105

In 1879, owing to the increase of mail matter of a heavy nature, it was
deemed necessary to issue a stamp of a high denomination, and the 5s. value
was issued of similar design to the preceding issue, colour green. Paper and
perforation as of previous issues.

In 1 88 1 it was found desirable to issue a -Jd. stamp for circulation and
newspaper purposes, and while awaiting the arrival of the permanent stamp,
the 5s. value of 1879 was surcharged "|-d " in black, the original value being
erased by a single heavy bar. There are four types of surcharge. This stamp
also appears with the surcharge inverted, besides various misprints and broken
numerals and letters, and erasing bar above or omitted altogether.

In the same year, owing to fresh supplies of the id. denomination not
arriving, it became necessary to resort to further surcharging, the 5s. value
being used for that object. Style of surcharge and type being identical with
that of the -Jp. provisional. There are five types of surcharge. This provi-
sional also appears with a double surcharge.

At the end of 1882 a further new value was found necessary to facilitate
postal business, namely a 3d. stamp, and to meet the case the 4p. stamp of
1878 was surcharged " 3d." in black, the original value being erased by a
single thick bar. Misprints such as erasing bar being above instead of through
original value ; with no erasing bar, &c. are also found. There are five types
of this surcharge. This stamp also appears with surcharge double.

In 1883 the permanent -|p. red-brown, and 3p. blue were issued, as also a
further new value, the 2p. violet. All on wove paper, unwatermarked and
perforated 14. Design as of previous issues.

In 1888 the 2d. value ran out and the 3p. blue of 1883 was pressed into
service to do duty with the surcharge " 2d " in black. There is a variety in
this surcharge in which the foot of the figure " 2 " is curved instead of straight.
It is very difficult to obtain this variety.

In 1890 the ip. stamp gave out and surcharging was once more resorted
to. The balance of the 4d. blue of 1878, remaining after the provisional issue
" 3d. on 4p." of 1882, were surcharged " id." in black. There are two types
of surcharge. This stamp also appears with surcharge double, and also treble.
Another variety of this surcharge has also to be recorded in which there is an
" I " instead of a " 1."

Owing to there not being sufficient stamps of the 4d. value to meet require-
ments, the 3d. blue of 1883 was surcharged " id." in black in same type as
that of the id. on 4p. There are also two types of this surcharge. The
variety of the "I" instead of " 1 " appsaring in the id. on 4p. has not been
found in this provisional. There is, however, a variety to be noted, and that is
the numeral " 3 " is 3111m. distant from the " d " instead of next to it.

In 1892, on the Orange Free State joining the Postal Union, it became
necessary to have a 2-^d. stamp, and for purposes of economy the 3d. blue of
1883 was surcharged " 2^d " in black. This stamp is still in circulation.

In 1894 ^r- Klynveld moved a motion in the Volksraad that the Orange Free
State should emulate the example set by many of the Central American Repub-
lics and increase its revenue by frequent changes in the postage emissions,
and in the same year the colour of the ip. brown of 1868 was changed to
violet, being the same colour as the current 2p. It was feared that this was
the forerunner of a new issue of stamps in terms of Mr. Klynveld's proposal,
but fortunately this has not proved to be the case.

^55"^^-

io6 THE PHILATELIC RECORD,

^eviexds*

The Postal Issues of Hawaii.

History of the Postal Issues of Hawaii. A List of the Adhesive Stamps, Stamped
Envelopes and Postal Cards of the Hawaiian Government . Compiled and
published by Brewster C. Kenyon, Long Beach, California, U.S.A., js. 6d.

This is a neat pamphlet of some 26 pages, with an excellent full page
portrait of the author, eight finely reproduced full page plates of stamps, and
numerous textual illustrations of the type-set series. Mr. Kenyon should be
able to speak with authority on these stamps, for he has studied them for
more than 20 years, both at home and on the islands. He assures us that he
has listed no stamp without ample proof of its existence as a bond fide Govern-
ment issue. His dates, if not taken from the official records, are the earliest
dates he has been able to find on cancelled copies. Mr. Kenyon gives us a
mass of valuable detail in the most concise form. Some two or three years
ago Mr. Walter M. Giffard, of Honolulu, published an excellent descriptive
catalogue of the same stamps, and this, taken in conjunction with Mr. Kenyon's
work under notice, should satisfy the most exacting specialist.

^^^^

The American Philatelist, Vol. IX.

Year Book of the American Philatelic Association, February, 1896. Published by the
American Philatelic Association. Secretary, C. W. Kissinger, Reading, Pa.
U.S.A.

This portly volume of 138 closely printed, double column pages, should
afford convincing proof of the vitality of the association which publishes it.
It seems to be made up of a very full report of the tenth Annual Convention
of the A.P.A., held at Clayton, N. Y., August 13-16, 1895. Most of the matter
will of course interest only those who are members of the A.P.A. ; still there
are many pages of interest to the general philatelist. There is, for instance,
a discussion on " Seebecks," in which Mr. Luff pointed out that the dangers to
be apprehended from the Central American States are not confined to
Seebecks. He scarcely thinks that it would improve matters if the offending
States discontinued the sales of remainders and confined themselves to annual
issues, nor does he put much faith in the boycott. It is, in his opinion, a
weak weapon at the best. His panacea for the evil is that of the New York
Society of memorializing the offending States, and calling their attention to
the pernicious effects of their actions. Well, we don't know that it matters
much by which road we reach the one desired end of confining the offending
States to genuine postal issues. If the New York Society can get the moral
suasion into effective working order, so much the better, and as there is
nothing so effective in the moral suasion line as the ever-present fear of a
terrible hereafter, the New York Society can use the threatened boycott of the
S.S.S.S. as a powerful lever. We S.S.S.S. advocates don't want to fight, but,
by jingo, if we do, &c, &c.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

107

J^ovelties and discoveries.

The earliest information as to New Issues will be much appreciated by us, and will be duly credited
to the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our joreign correspondents can materially help us in this
direction. When possible, a specimen should accompany the injormation, and be addressed to the Editor
Mr. Edwakd J. Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon.

British East Africa. — The new

design is expected shortly. We presume
it will be of the stereotyped De la Hue
pattern.

British Levant.— Our publishers in-
forni us thatthey have the 2s. 6d. value
on bleute paper.

British South Africa. — Several
journals announce the 6d. value on thick
paper, perf. 12 k, as already chronicled in
the case of the 2d. and 4d. We are,
however, authorised to say that the only
printing by the new printers (Messrs.
Perkins, Bacon & Co.) from the old plates
engraved by Messrs. Bradbury, Wilkinson
& Co , i.e on thicker paper, and perf. 12$,
are the 2d. and 4d. values. These two
values are varieties easily distinguishable
from the ordinary series by any one of
three tests, (a) thicker paper, (b) paler
colouring, and (c) perf. 12£ instead of 14.
They mark the change of printers, and
are most interesting as being printings
by the new printers from the old plates
engraved by the previous printers.

We have now before us a full set of the
new issue from id. to Is., in all eight
values. They are all of the same design
and bi-coloured, and are all, with one
exception, printed on thickish white
wove unwatcrmarked paper. The one
exception is the 8d., which is printed on
a pale salmon-coloured wove paper. The
stamps are arranged in sheets of GO each,
being printed on a thick white wove
paper. Each stamp measures 23mm.
wide by 29mm. long. The whole of the
sheet is surrounded outside the perfora-
tions with a marginal line in the colour
of the value. The four corner numerals
of value and the bottom label are all
printed in a separate colour from the
main central design of the stamp which, we
illustrated in our last number. Perf 14

}jd., slate-green labels in voilet.

Id., vermilion , emerald

green.

2d., amber ,, mauve.

3d., red-brown , blue

4d.,blue „ mauve.

tid., mauve „ pink.

8d., olive-green, salmon paper violet.

Is., green , blue.

Cyprus. — We are at last beginning to
receive the new series which we chronicled
in February (p. 47). Messrs. Whitfield
King & Co., send us the 1, G, and 12
piastres which they inform us have only
just been issued. The 30 paras will be
issued about the end of this moHth, but
the J, 2, and 4 piastres, Messrs. Whitfield
King & Co. learn, will not be issued for
at least two months yet, as there is a
considerable stock of these values still in
the island, and no new stamps are to be
sold until the old ones of the same value
are entirely exhausted.

France. — The Monthly Journal has
received a set of the current stamps,
as given below, surcharged " POSTE —
FRANCAISE — Madagascar," in three lines,
for use in that island. The M. J. quotes
the Le C. de T. P. to the effect that the
10 + 10c. Card, the 25c. Letter Card,
and the 5, 10, 30, 50 centimes and 1 franc
Unpaid Letter Stamps, have all been sur-
charged with the corresponding values in
Spanish currency for use at Tangicrs.

Foit Offices en Madagascar.

Adhesives.

5c, green red surcharge.

10c., black on lilac „ „

15c., blue „ ,,

25c, black on rose „ „

40c, red black „

50c, carmine ,. ,,

75c, black on yellow; red ,,

I fr., bronze-green; black ,,
1 fr., lilac

Fou Offices in Tangieus.

Unpaid Letter Stamps.

5 centimes, in red, on 5c, blue.
10 „ „ 10c, brown.

30 „ in black, on 30c, rose.

50 „ „ 50c, lilac

I peseta „ lfr., red-brown.

Post Card.

10 + 10 centimos, in carmine, on 10 + 10 c.

Letter Card.

25 centimos in carminey on 25c

Gibraltar.— It is stated that the re-
mainders of the 5 pesetas, amounting to
G000 copies, have been sold, and that the
5 pesetas value will be discontinued.

io8

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

We shall be glad of definite information
on this point.

Great Britain. — More "cripples"!
We cull the following from the S. C. F. : —

Messrs. Kidpath, of Liverpool, have been
kind enough to send us for inspection an error
of the current English lOd. The frame, which
should be printed in carmine, appears in a bright
violet, whereas the central piece, which should
be printed in dull violet, appears in the green
shade of the current 1/-. The stamp is post-
marked " RD-STftEET, S.O.W.C," dated
January 27th, 1890, with delivery time A6 at
top. We think this is probably a colour trial
used for franking. As explained in a previous
article, stamps printed from any approved plate
are always available for postage, and, so far, we
are without evidence that the stamp is anything
more than a postally used colour proof.

Guatamala.— There seem to be two
types of the lc. overprint on oc. Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co. inform us that the
two types do not occur on the same sheet,
but are two separate issues at different
periods. In each case the overprint is
"1 — oentavo — 1895," in three lines in
red on the oc. violet. The figure is much
the same in both, but the word ' ' cen-
tavo " in one measures 16mm., and in
the other only ll^mm. The figures 1895
in one measure barely 10mm., and in the
other 12mm.

Honduras.— This republic which for
years past has been turning out such
unlimited quantities of Seebeck r>ostal
stationery, seems to have taken, tem-
porarily at all events, to the manufacture
of its own stamps. They are not works
of high art, it is true, but in this case the
genuine home-brewed article is much
more certain of a philatelic welcome than
the most beautiful Seebeck yet included
in the speculative arrangement. This
new issue seems to be a rough litho-
graphed portrait of the President in
ordinary civilian dress.

Adhesives.

lc, blue.
2c, bistre.
5c. violet.
iOc. red.

20c, green.
30c, blue.
50c, carmine.
I peso, brown.

Adhesive.

lc. on 5c. violet, sur. in red, var. of sur.

Adhesive.

1S93, 5c, blue, double surcharge.

Hawaii. — The Metropolitan Philatelist
says the oc. of 1893 has been seen with
double surcharge.

India. — The Monthly Journal an-
nounces that the rate for soldiers' letters
having been raised to an anna, the 9 pies
stamp has been withdrawn from circula-
tion. The M.J. adds : —

According to the Indian Postal Guide the
^a. postcards can be used for Postal Union
purposes, with the la. rate made up by means
of adhesive stamps. The 9 pies stamp is the
one by which the rate can be made, but the
Director-General of the Indian Post Office has
decided that the department is " not bound to
supply a special stamp for this purpose." The
correspondent who tells us this, points out that
the later printings of the 9 pies stamp are not
quite in so deep a shade of carmine as the earlier.

The Philatelic World (Calcutta) says
the current Indian stamps surcharged
"On Postal Service" are supplied to
post offices to represent Customs dues on
foreign inward parcels. They are not
available for sale to the public.

Japan. — The commemoration flood,
which is gathering force at the expense
of philatelists, is to receive a further
addition in the shape of two new Japanese
stamps to commemorate the late war
with China. One will bear the portrait
of the late Marshal, Prince Arisugawa
Taruhito, " chief of the staff of the Army
of the Japanese Empire," and the other
a likeness of the late Lieut. -General
Prince Kitashirakawa, commander of the
Imperial Guards engaged in the subjuga-
tion of Formosa.

Lab u an. —Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co. send us a provisional postcard made
by surcharging the current 8 cents.
North Borneo postcard " Labuan — 4 —
cents," in three lines, in black.

Postcard.
4c. on 8c Nortli Borneo, green ; sur. black.

Luxemburg. —The LP. hears of the
following stamps changed from 12£ to

Adhesives',
I2ic, slate-blue ; perf. 11£.
20 c, orange ,,

30 c, olive „

37JC, green „

50 c, brown „

Newfoundland. — The L.P. says the
2c. adhesive has been changed from
vermilion to brown.

Adhesive.
2c, brown.

New Zealand.— Our New Zealand
friends have a special new variety of
their own in the shape of a defective die,

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

log

caused by an accident to the plate of the
one penny. Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co. inform us that the variety is in great
demand in the Colony, and is known there
as ' ' slit ears," the accident m -iking a white
slit through the hair and on to the ear.

Mr. T. A. Skip with writes to us:— I
have just received a block of the current
New Zealand 3d. yellow, perf. 12^ x 10
— a variety which I have not seen
chronicled.

Adhesive.
3d. yellow, perf. 12£ x 10.

The A ustralian Philatelist has received
from Mr. H. Maclean, Hon. Sec. of the
Philatelic Society of New Zealand, a list
of the approved designs for the ''coming "
series of postage stamps. It is noted that
the colours given are apparently those of
the artists' designs, and not the adopted
colours for the stamps. The A. P. says
there will be doubtless some considerable
delay before the stamps appear, as no
decision as to whether they are to be
engraved in the colony, or in England,
has yet been made public. The following
is the list : —

Id. small rect. violet, View of Mt. Cook, the highest

peak in N.Z.
'2d. ,, ,, „ Kiwi bird and Maori canoe

paddles crossed.
2id. long, rect. purple, View of Milford Sound.
3d. ,, ,, ,, Mt. Earnslaw and Lake Wakatip*
4d. small rect. yellow, Mountain scene and Cabbage tree

in foreground.
5d. „ „ blue, Mountain, Lake, Cabbage tree and

canoe.
6d. „ ,, red, Maori Whare or hut and Lake

scene.
8d. „ ,, brown. Mitre Peak, Milford Sound.
Is, ,, „ red, Two birds on a branch, probably

pigeons.
2s. long ,, blue, Mt. Egmont.
5s. ,, ,, carmine, The Fink Terrace, Kotorua

(now destroyed).

Norway. — The 35 ore stamp has been
issued with " Norge " in Eoman capitals.

Adhesive.
35 ore, blue green.

Orange Free State. — President
Steyn in his speech at the opening of the
Volksraad on the 7th of April announced,
that the Free State could not at pre-
sent enter the Postal Union. The tele-
graphic report does not give the reasons
for this holding aloof of the Free State,
but these we shall presumably get later on
in the Cape papers.

Philippine Islands.— The A.J. P.

w ves the following
changed, perf. 14.

Adhesives.
lm., blue
2m. , brown
5m., green
$c., blue
lc, green
2c, blue
2c, brown (U.P.U.)

Post Cards.

2c blue, buff

5c, violet

5c, green (U.P.U.)

6c, carmine

8c, rose

10c, gray brown

loc, blue green

20c, orange yellow

3c, gray, buff

POrto Rico.— The colours of the ad-
hesive stamps have been changed as
follows :

Adhesives.

\ mil. violet.

1 „ lilac-brown.

2 ., yellow-green.
4 „ blue-green.

1 centimo, claret.

2 centimos, red-brown,
ultramarine,
brown,
light blue,
lilac,
rose.

olive-gray,
salmon.

Queensland.— The Australian Phila-
telist says the supply of Crown Q. paper
has again run short, and that the Id.
value is now printed on " secret mark "
paper, perf. 13.

Adhesive.

vermilion, " secret in

•k " paper.

Roumania. — The A.J. P. chronicles
the 50 bani unpaid letter stamp with
watermark, coat of arms, sideways.

Russia. — The lllustrierte Briefnwrken
Zeitung states that the 7 kopeck stamp of
the issue of 1 879 has been found printed
on revenue stamp paper watermarked
with hexagons.

Adhesive.
7k, gray and rose, wink., hexagon.

Russia, Levant.— Several Journals
Chronicle the 1 kopec surcharged 40
paras, but Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
write us that they have positive informa-
tion from head quarters that no such
stamp has been, or is likely to be issued.

Sierra Leone. — The 6d. is now

printed in red-violet instead of violet-
brown, wmk. CO., perf. 14.

Adhesive.

(id., red-violet.

South Australia.— According to the
Australian Philatelist, the £o " Postage
and Kevenue " stamp has been issued in
brown instead of pale grey, wmk. S.A.
and Crown II., perf. 1U x 12£. The ,4. P.
quotes a newspa er cutting as announcing
that designs have been invited for a new
Ad. adhesive, a newspaper wrapper stamp,
and a postcard. A premium of £5 is
offered for the best suggestion, the sub-
jects to be South Australian. The M.
adhesive is to be of ordinary size, the
little stamp in use at present being con-
sidered too small.

Mr. T. A. Skip with notifies as unchroni-
cled the 2s. broad star, perf. 10 at the top,
the ?d. Crown and S.A. (close) top

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

and 11^ on the sides and bottom; also
sides, perf. 10, and bottom 11^.

Adhesives.

2d. red, Cr. and S.A. (close), top and sides,

perf. 10, bottom ll£.

2s. carmine, broad star, top perf. 10,

sides and bottom, 1 1 J.

£5 brown, wmk. S.A., Crown 11.

Straits Settlements. — According
to the Straits Budget, the federation of the
Malay States, instead of putting an end
to the interminable crop of Native States
issues by the wise adoption of a postage
stamp common to all, will only afford an
excuse for ringing further changes on
philatelists. The Budr/et says it is
rumoured that the Federation scheme
includes a further change in the colours
of the postage stamps, and it is not im-
probable that the new tiger's head will
disappear for good. We trust and believe
the Colonial Office will nip this little
postal spt culation scheme in the bud.

Tonga. — -The Australian Philatelist
tells us, on the authority of Mr. de Lam-
bert, Postmaster of Tonga, that the
"permanent" series to be shortly issued
will consist of eleven values, and that
the designs are to be representative of
Tongan scenery and subjects.

Transvaal. — We are indebted to
Mr. H. Guest of Kerksdorp, S.A.R., for
a copy of the new Jd. green, and Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co. send us a used
copy. As the labels of value throughout
the new series are to be in green, this
Jd. will apparently be the only one that
will not be bi-coloured, as label and stamp
are all of one colour.

Adhesive.
Jd., green.

Zanzibar. — The current surcharged
Indian stamps will shortly give place to
a specially designed series showing a
portrait of H.H. the Sultan of Zanzibar,
with palm trees, red flags, and Arabic
characters. The series will consist of the
following values : — £a., la., 2a., 2^a., 3a.,
4a., oa., 7^a., 8a., lr., 2r., 3r., 4r., or.

Meanwhile we have to chronicle a few
more varieties of the surcharge, discovered
on inspecting an almost complete sheet of
the ^a. kindly forwarded to us by Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co. The printers having
presumably run short of the letter "b,"
ingeniously used an inverted "q,"
thus: — " Zanzibar " instead of "Zanzi-
bar;" another vaiiety is a " b " of a
different fount, of a block type thus :
" Zanzibar" instead of " Zanzibar," and
the capital "Z" below the level of the

other letters, and another with the final
"r" upside down. There are also minor
differences in the letter " z." The won-
der is that there are not more varieties of
type in so many settings of the same
letters.

We find we have omitted to chronicle
the Envelopes and Postcards.

Envelopes.
Ja., green, blue surcharge.
2a. G pies, black surcharge on orange; blue surcharge.

Registered Envelopes.
2as., blue (2 sizes) ; blue surcharge.
Wrappers. £a., green ; blue surcharge,
la., blue.

Postcards.

|a., red-brown ; blue surcharge.

£a. + Ju., red-brown ,, (reply).

la. on l£ anna blue „

1 + la. on 1^ +1£ anna blue ; blue surcharge.

Zulu land. — A 2s. 6d. stamp has been
added to the current series. Wmk. cr.
C.A. ; perf. 14.

Adhesive.
2s. Gil., green and black.

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No. 1, price one shilling (postage extra).

The April packet contains five varieties,
used and unused, viz. : Peru 1896, lc.
blue ; Columbia 2c. green, 2^c. unpaid,
blue on salmon, registered 10c. brown on
buff, and Queensland Id., new type on
thin paper.

No. 2, price five shillings (postage
extra).

The April packet contains ten varieties,
used and unused, viz. : — Transvaal Id.
rose and green; Peru 1896, 10c. yellow;
Bulgaria 1896, 10c, and 30c. ; Timor
provisionals ^ avo on 2^r., and 1 avo on
5 reis ; Columbia 5c. brown on buff, &c.

These packets are on sale from April 2oth
to May -24th (unless the supply is previously
exhausted), and are supplied only to Subscribers
to the " Philatelic Recokd and Stamp
News." Similar packets will be on sale every
month, and may be subscribed fur in advance
for the year (Januaiy to December inclusive),
at the following rates : —No. 1 packet (sent by
book post with the paper), 12s., post-free (if
by letter post the postage is Is. extra Inland,
2s. 6d. Abroad). No. 2 packet (by letter post),
Inland 61s., Abroad 62s. 6d. post-free.

The subscription to, the paper (3s. per annum)
is extra.— Buhl & Co. Limited, 11, Queen
Victoria Street, E.C.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

philately in the J)?ags.

3^C

Philately on the Continent.
Mr. Castle has been touring on the
Continent, and in the London Philatelist
he tells us, editorially, what he thinks of
the philatelic outlook in the countries
which he visited. After a scathing home
thrust assertion that the only " foreigners1 '
acknowledged in Philately "are those
whose general conduct is not approved by
their compeers," Mr. Castle says : —

In Germany and in Belgium the impression
conveyed is, that the number of collections is
larger than ever, and that the fine specimens
available for acquisition are far fewer, while the
general interest in Philately, and all that ap-
pertains thereto, is most keen. The number of
collectors in the Fatherland is doubtless in
excess of that in any other country in the world,
but it lacks men of sufficient " pith and
moment " to make collections of first or second
rank. No present-day traveller in Germany
who knew the country a quarter of a century
since but would bo struck with the enormous
increase in the material prosperity of Germany,
and it is therefore to be regretted that the
Germans should allow, principally from want of
pluck, so many of their finest stamps to go
abroad. Philately —to use an Americanism —
has come to stay, and some day the richer
German collectors will be repurchasing their own
stamps from abroad at prices far beyond those
paid at this end of the century. In the litera-
ture affecting Philately, Germany has made
vast strides recently, and now stands in the very
first flight among nations.

It is naturally but a truism to slate, that fine
stamps, of any country, from Hawaii and Buenos
Ayres downwards, rind appreciators in every
market; but the setting currents of Philately
are more than ever marked on the Continent :
England and Colonies, Europe, and United
States, form the burden of desire. Each of
thc-e groups appeals strongly to the instincts of
the collector, and. alas ! still more forcibly to
those of the " Speknlant," who form a large
and important section of Philatelic humanity.
We must confess to a limited sympathy with
them, as being neither open buyers or sellers,
but simply enhancers of the market prices ; but
they must be taken as an accepted factor in the
situation. The broad result of the writer's
experience in some dozen prominent cities of the
Continent, inclusive of the capitals of France,
Geimany, and Belgium, is that in all these three
great branches of Philately there is an ever-
growing demand for rare stamps and tine speci-
mens, and an ever and most rapidly decreasing
supply. The true appreciation of unused
stamps, notably Europeans, is also becoming
daily more and mire apparent, while the
standard of condition is enormously raised. The
combined result of the forenamed factors is.

naturally, that there has been such a great and
continuous increase of prices as to constitute an
accelerated momentum, which latter movement
— we presume— must have a terminus. This
end, however, is not yet reached, and there is
yet scope for many stamps to " go up " before
the absurd maximum height is attained, that
makes a fall inevitable. Meanwhile, and in
our humble judgment, for centuries to come,
perhaps, the real rare gems of Philately will
remain as highly priced, and as keenly appre-
ciated, as the precious stones < f mother earth.

" For centuries to come," is quite cx-
hilerating.

Differences in 1873 and 1882 U.S.

The American Journal of Philately gives
the following hints to collectors to help
them in distinguishing the re-engraved
stamps of the 1882 issue of the United
Scates from the 1873 issue : —

1 Cent.— The lines of the background have
been added to in the upper part i f the stamp,
so that in most printings the background ap-
pears almost solid. The curved ornaments in
the upper part have also had lines of shading
added, so that they do not appear white and
distinct as formerly, or as similar lines in the
lower part of the stamp.

3 Cents. — The shadings of the central oval
are only about half the width of those on the
1873 stamps. About 1 mm. below the "ts"
of " cents " a shoit horizontal dash has been
added.

(> Cents. — On the original stamps, four vertical
lines of the back-ground could be counted from
the edge of the panel to the outside of stamp.
On the re-engraved stamps there are but three
lines in the same place. Most of the lines of
the stamp have been cut deeper, and the stamps
seem blurred.

10 Cents. — On the left there were five ver-
tical lines between the oval and the edge of the
shield in the 1873 stamps. There are only
four lines in the re-engraved stamps. Below
the ribbon with " tex cents'' the horizontal
lines of the groundwork are strengthened.

There are many other points of dissimilarity,
but these are the most prominent.

Australian " Postal Fiscals."
As everyone knows who has studied the
works of the Philatelic Society of London
the premier society has not taken kindly
to that suspicious hybrid, the " Postal
Fiscal. " The Society generally deals
with the germs " postal fiscal " in a ' foot
note," which is in such cases only one of
many ways for expressing one's con-
tempt for " sich things." But we are
bound to confess that Mr. A. F. Basset

112

I HE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Hull in the March number of the Monthly
Journal makes out a very strong case for
defendants, the said " postal fiscals." He
contends that when the revenue stamp is
permitted, by reason of a temporary
dearth in the postal labels, to do duty as
a postage stamp, it at once takes up a
new position and character, and becomes
a provisional postal. "When such a change
in its sphere of usefulness takes place, he
points out that it is generally heralded by
some kind of official authority — a decree
— a postmaster's notice — a regulation — a
ministerial sanction — all of which may
authorise the temporary adoption of the
revenue stamp into the postal fold. Then
it becomes, he holds, a fairly collectable
provisional postal, and for its admission
into a postal purist's album, should be
authenticated by a postmark bearing a
date concurrent with the duration of its
official authorisation, but unused he admits
it is still a revenue stamp only. So that
one who confined his collection to unused
would have to deprive himself of such
stamps. The postmark marks the change,
i.e., the postmark takes effect as a sur-
charge from Mr. Basset Hull's point of
view. In fact the " Postal Fiscal " and
" Colonial English " are very much on a
par in this respect. But Mr. Basset Hull
goes further and produces chapter and
verse for the authorised use of fiscals as
postage in the various Australian Colonies.

Qt'EENSLANl;.

Queensland, he tells us, was the first
Australian colony to authorise the postal
use of stamps previously devoted to Re-
venue purposes.

Under date 22nd December, 1879, a notice
made under authority of the Postage Act was
inserted in the Government Gazetfe as fol-
lows : —

" The public are informed that, from and
after 1st January, 1880, the issue of separate
stamps for duty and postal purposes will cease.

" The present postage stamps from one penny
to one shilling, and the present duty stamps
from two shillings upwards will in future be
the only stamps issued ; and each denomination
will he available to the full extent of its
nominal value for all purposes for which se-
parate stamps have hitherto been required."

NEW ZEALAND.

JSTew Zealand followed suit with a
wholesale notice in the New Zealand
Gazette, on the 3rd November, 1881,
which notified that —

His Excellency the Governor, &c, &c, doth
hereby order and declare that, from and after
the making of this order, it shall and may be
lawful to use any kind of stamps issued by the
Government of the said Colony (except those
issued under "The Beer Duty Act. 1880") in
payment of any matters which, under the

Stamp Fee Acts of 1875 and 1880, and the
regulations made thereunder, are required to be
paid or denoted by stamps. And further, that
penny postage stamps may be used for stamping
receipts.

TASMANIA.

In Tasmania, Mr. Bassett Hull tells
us —

The Act of 1882 invested all stamps originally
issued in Tasmania for fiscal purposes, with the
character of postage stamps. These include all
varieties of colour of the St, George and Dragon
Stamps, both perforated and otherwise, as well
as the Platypus Stamps, the 3d., 6d., and Is.,
of which were in use as the only postal repre-
sentatives of those values for nearly ten years,.

Victoria came next, and on the 1st January,
1884, " The Post-office Act, 1883," came into
force. Section 4 enacted that: "Any stamp
issued under the authority of ' The Stamp
Statute, 18^9,' of ' The Stamp Duties Act,
1879,' of l The Post-office Statute, I860,' hereby
repealed, or of this Act, may be used for the
purposes of the said Acts, or of this Act, save
and except where an embossed stamp is re-
quired,"

This enactment, therefore, definitely autho-
rised the postal use of all the previously issued
fiscal stamps. The " Stamp Statute " series of
1869, ranging from ^d. to £5. and the " Stamp
Duty" series of 1879 onward from Id. to £100.
were by this Act invested with the quality of
postage stamps. The Stamp Statute series was
sold at the Post-office until the stock was
exhausted, and the Stamp Duty Stamps, with
a few minor alterations and additional values,
are at the present time issued for postal use.
The new series from ^d. to 2s. of January,
1884, and all subsequent issues, whether ad-
hesive stamps or stationery, bear the words,
'• Stamp Duty," in order to render the whole
class of stamps uniform.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA,

In Western Australia the legislation is quite
recent. The Post and Telegraphs Act, 1893,
provides (Section 23) : —

" (1). Any stamp duties chargeable under the
" Stamp Act." 1882, of an amount not exceed-
ing one shilling, which may legally be denoted
by adhesive stamps, and any postage fees or
dues to the like amount, may be denoted by the
same adhesive stamps."

" (2). With a view to exhaust any adhesive
postage stamps denoting an amount not exceed-
ing one shilling, which may have been unissued
or unused, such stamps to a proper amount may
be used to denote any stamp duties, chargeable
as aforesaid, of an amount not exceeding one
shilling, which may legally be denoted by
adhesive stamps."

The first part of this section unquestionably
makes postage stamps and revenue stamps, not
exceeding Is. in value, interchangeable as
regards their sphere of usefulness, Of course
the rabid collector came in, and used fiscal
values up to 5s., but these can only be regarded
as curiosities.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

IJ3

NEW SOUTH WALES AND SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

With regard to the two remaining Colonies
little need be said. New South "Wales never,
under any circumstances, authorised, even for
a single day, the use of fiscals as postals, and
all specimens purporting to have been so used
are either fraudulently maufactured, or due to
" official laxity or complaisance.''

South Australia never had a Stamp Act
until 1886, when combined Postage and Revenue
stamps were issued, bearing an inscription
denoting their general character. These extend
up to £20 in value, and are unhesitatingly
catalogued as full postals ; though, in all
probability, the higher values are never used
for postal purposes.

Unpaid Letter Stamps of France.

Le Collectioneur de Timbres Pastes his
been asked how to distinguish between
the lithographed and typographed unpaid
letter stamps of France, and in reply gives
the following distinguishing features : —

TEN CENTIMES.

Lithographed. The letters and figures " 10
centimes *' are not as heavy. "Centimes" is
in noticeable shorter letters, the accent over
" a" is very different, it extends over the whole
letter, the letters and ornaments in the outer
frame are much clearer.

Typographed. The accent over the letter
"a," is more vertical, lettering in outer frame
not so clear. Being printed from a plate with
raised surface, the back of the stamp almost
always shows part or all of the design in relief ;
this is not the ease in the lithograph, which
being printed from a stone, is absolutely flat.

FIFTEEN CENTIMES.

This stamp was issued from Paris in 1803,
from a typograph. The lithograph was made
in Bordeaux in 1870, during the Franco -
Prussian War.

Typographed. This is usually on yellowish
paper, shows part of the design in relief on the
back, the " a " is smaller, accent is oblique, and
if continued would touch the letter.

Lithographed. This is usually on very white,
or slightly bluish paper, no part of the design
shows on the back, " centimes " is a little larger
than the preceding, the ''a" is larger, the
accent is much nearer horizontal, and if con-
tinued would not touch the letter.

Queensland Perforating Machines.

A Queensland correspondent sends the
Monthly Journal details as to the four
perforating machines now in the posses-
sion of the Colonial Government.

1st, guage 13, obtained in 1862.

2nd, guage 12, 12£, obtained Jan. 2, 1874.

3rd, guage 9£, obtained May 29, 1883.

4th, guage 13, obtained April 5, 1889.

The 3rd is a rotary one, and the 4th is the
machine now principally used, which perforates
three sides of the stamp at once ; but there
seems to be no doubt that the first stamps
printed in the Colony were perforated, as we
stated last month, by a machine that did not
belong to the Government.

Aggregate Printings of U.S.
Departmental.

The United States Official Postal Guide
for March, 1896, gives the following
interesting table showing ' ' the aggregate
number of Official Postage Stamps fur-
nished the several executive departments
during the whole period of their issue
from May 29th to June 16th, 1884."

Agriculture.

lc 95,415

2c 230,150

3c 435,060

6c 120,000

10c 95,260

12c 51,265

15c 54.050

24c 60.265

30c &2,-2(\o

Executive.

lc 6,800

2c 9,100

3c 23,500

(ic 5.500

10c 5.510

Interior.

2c.

3c.

6c.
10c.
12c.
15c.
24c.
30e.
90c.

lc.

2c.

3c.

6c.
10c.
12c.
15c.
24c.
30c.
90c.

Justice.

.. 394,800
1,413,400
5,285,500
1.72-2,500
.. 284,350
.. 359,850
,. 247,100
,. 134,125
,. 138,300
... 64.377

Navy.

. 25,000
. 26,900
182,000
. 84,000
. 20.500
. 26,800
. 12.800
.. 6,400
.. 8,000
.. 3,200

lc 106,800

2c 201,350

3c 580,700

6c 254,800

7c 16,000

10c 55,210

12c 61,300

15c 37,500

24c 26,000

30c 29,600

90c 11,270

Post Office.

lc 1,114,250

2c 894,600

3c 65,297,700

6c 3.306,800

10c 182,460

12c 298,780

15c 109,285

24c 87,025

30c 133,255

90c 65,200

State.

lc 31,800

2c 41.800

3c 109,200

6c 82,100

7c 37,800

10c 04.900

12c 20,800

15c 22,800

24c 13.H0O

30c 20,100

90c 0,643

§2 3,508

$5 303

$10 363

$20 363

Tbeasuit!

Ic.

2c.

3c.

6c .

7c.
10c.
12c
15c
24c
30c

. 2,000.000
. 2,484,500
11.250,000
. 4,105.000
... 220.000
. 1,291,500
... 783,000
... 663.000
... 100,000
... 456.500

90c 312,500

lc.

2c.

3c.

fie.

7c
10c
12c
15c
24c.
30c.
90c

301
867
393
504

55
342
792
285
200
330

230
150
137
813
728
753
070
,960
,925
,641
172

Commenting on this table, the A merican
Journal of Philately says: —

The most important example of a stamp in
which the quantity issued appears enormous,

ii4

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

and the price to-day by comparison enormous,
is the 24c. of the Treasury Department ; yet it
would be difficult to find 500 of these stamps in
the stock of all the dealers in the United States
combined. Another interesting set of figures is
that showing an exactly equal amount issued
to the State Depai-tment of each of the three
higher values, viz., $5, $10 and $>0. It may
seem strange that the order of rarity as at
present estimated begins with the $5 stamp and
ends with the $20, which is recognised as the
commonest of the three. However, this is
perfectly natural, as, while unused specimens
of the $5 stamp are far rarer than those of the
other two values, used specimens are found
much more frequently. The Department of
State is in the habit of sending very bulky
documents to ministers and consular agents
abroad, many of which would at that time
have required stamps of from $2 to $5, while
the use of a $10 or $20 stamp must have been
a rare occurrence. As a natural consequence,
more of the higher values remained in the
department at the time that the use of the
stamps was discontinued, and, therefore, the
higher price now obtained for the $5 stamp is a
perfectly natural result. It may be remem-
bered that only three or four years ago a large
quantity of the $20 stamps, somewhere in the
neighbourhood of a hundred or so, were found
in "Washington and disposed of to a well-known
dealer there.

Recent Curacao Provisionals.

The Speculative character of recent
provisionals, 2aC. on 10c. blue, and 2ic.
on 30c. grey, has been pretty clearly de-
monstrated by the American Journal of
Philately, which on being taken to task
by the Postmaster of Curacao, for its
exposure of the speculation replies as
follows : —

It may be that we somewhat exaggerated
the proportion of these stamps held by re-
latives of the postmaster, but we can state
positively that one nephew of this official held
5,000 stamps out of the total issue of 40,1*00
of thg 2gC. on 10c. blue, which he offered at the
modest sum of 1 florin each.

It appears that the second provisional, 2^c. on
30c, was not to be sold over the counter of the
post-office, but was to be affixed by the clerk to
all postal matter which required a 2^c. stamp,
and it was stated by the post-master that this in-
tention was strictly carried out. The rate for
newspapers addressed to Venezuela, Colombia,
and the West Indies is 2Jc. and as a result of this
ruling, thousands of newspapers were addressed
to the countries above named on the date on
which the provisional stamps were first offered
to the public, but the majority of these news-
papers never left the island of Curacao. The post-
master informs us that, in accordance with the
existing rules of the office, the greater part of
the newspapers so mailed were reclaimed before
they had been forwarded, and that this request
had to be complied with.

It may also be interesting to state, that the
New York mails which left at about the same
time as the provisional was made, also bore

regular stamps of the 2xc, value, so that the
necessity of crealing the provisionals in question
does not readily appear.

The U.S. 30c. 1872. Secret Mark.

A MARE'S NEST.

There is a cruel awakening this month
in regard to Mr. Hilckes' discovery of
the secret mark on the United States 30c.
of 1872. ]STo less an authority than
Mr. Crawford Capen in the Post Office
(U.S.) declares it to be nothing short of
a mare's nest. Here is what he says :—

It is not often that anything very funny
appears in the stamp papers, but the Stump
Collectors Fortnightly of London has an article
entitled " A New Discovery/' by Harry
Hilckes, which has set America in a roar. This
treats of the secret marks made by the Conti-
nental Bank Note Company upon United States
stamps. After illustrating those from one cent
to fifteen cents, which have been discovered by
American collectors, the author announces his
wonderful new discovery, the secret mark on the
thirty cent. This is nothing more nor less than
the plate dot which appears in the side of the
oval, and which every school-boy collector in
the United States understands. A* column and
a half of explanations is devoted to this splendid
discovery, and three magnificent electrotype
cuts elucidate its glories, but the sad fact
remains that the great discovery is a plate dot
and nothing more. We are sorry for the useless
expense to which this editor has put himself.
Had he but read understandingly American
articles upon United States stamps he certainly
would never have made this blunder. Still we
do not know that we are very sorry for him, for
his implication that American collectors have
no eyes is most fittingly met by his discomfiture.
One or two of the school-boy papers, such as
this veteran disdains to notice, have called
attention to the plate dots on nearly all the
stamps of the 1870 issue as probable secret
marks, but a word from the more experienced
collectors has silenced them. We think Mr.
Hilckes had better read a little more broadly
bet re he undertakes to lead American col-
lectors in their discovery of facts relating to
their own stamps.

PLATE DOTS.

Plate dots are a device of the engravers for
the proper placing of the die upon the plate.
Originally, as seen in the plate of the three
cent of 1851, lines were drawn on the plate for
the purpose. A more perfect system of engrav-
ing recognised these lines as crude, and resorted
to small dots conveniently placed for the purpose
of securing the correct placing of the transfer
roll on the plate. Mr. Hilckes will find these
dots at the tops of many of the stamps of the
I860 issue, but they, as well as some fine lines
used for the same purpose, will be found most
commonly in the stamps engraved and printed
by the National Bank Note Company from
1870-1873. The dot in the edge of the oval is
certainly more frequent in the National than in
the Continental thirty cent of 1S70.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

ii5

Chilians used in Peru.

Mr. H. A. Slade, continuing his notes
on Chilians in the Bazaar dealing with
Chilian stamps, postmarked and dis-
patched from post offices in Peru, during
the war between Chili and Peru, gives
the following list of varieties of cancella-
tions employed : —

1. Two small circles, date in one line.
" Lima Correos."

2. Two large circles, date in one line, larger
type. (:Callao Correos."

3. One small oval, no date. " Yea."

4. Distinctive oval Peruvian postmark, no
dale, name of town in Roman capitals.
" Paita."

Few Peruvian towns and villages appear to
have escaped these cancellations. The following
list contains those that have actually come
under my notice, hut, of course, does not
pretend to be complete : Lima, Pasco, Callao,
Piuro. Yea, Salaverry, Paita, Arequipa,
Lambayaque, and Mollendo.

Now the question arises, and must be
settled by the authorities, on "Colonial
English," what are these stamps ? Are
they Chilian or Peruvian ? In the
unused state they are Chilians, but they
are used in Peru. So far, according to
the " Colonial English " theory, they are
Peruvians. But the matter is complicated
by the fact that the originators of the
stamps are on the spot as conquerors,
controlling the postal arrangements.

At the "Cripples" again.

The learned editor of the Monthly
Circular is making a dead set at what are
generally termed " minor varieties,'1 and
which he calls " Cripples." Here is the
latest outburst : —

There is a trite saying " De minimis lex non
curat," but there are teachers at the present day
who are endeavouring to educate stamp collec-
tors into a belief that philately consists in caring
about the very smallest atoms. They want to
destroy the good all-round philatelist and to
supply his place by a specialist who will be
satisfied with the smallest crumb of comfort
they can dde out to him. In the English line-
engraved stamps these caterers for specialists
first began with "ivory heads," which are
nothing more than specimens in which the blue
stain in the stamps has not extended over the
more lightly shaded parts. Since that, they
have been driven to try and make varieties of
hair lines traversing the lower part of the stamp
horizontally, of double-lettering, and of letters
punched over others that have been imperfectly
removed ; but all these are merely accidents
that are likely to occur, more particularly when
the operation is by hand. The hair lines are
nothing more than the guide lines of the en-
graver who laid down the plate, and which he
failed to keep, or made stronger in some places
than in others, and do not appear after Messrs.
Perkins & Bacon introduced their improved ma-
chinery. The double-lettering is only due to a

slight displacement of the punch when the letters
were punched on the plate ; one letter punched
over another is the rectification of an error in.
one of the stamps ; but what have these micro-
scopic investigations to do with philately ?

The " Boris " Bulgarian Issue.

We shall, no doubt, by-and-bye get at
the truth as to the permanence or non-
permanence of the Bulgarian commemo-
rative issue. The latest scrap of evidence
comes from the S.C.J., and this we give.
Despite its avowed hostility, the S.C.J.
affords evidence that the issue is more or
less a permanent issue. Undesirable as it
may be from a philatelic point of view,
we confess we see nothing in it yet to
justify such wild language as " swindle."

We have received the following particulars
about the " Boris " stamps from a correspondent
in Sofia. — It appears that the " Sobranje," the
Bulgarian Parliament, wished to present the
young Prince Boris, on the occasion of his
admittance to the Greek Church, a sum of
500,000 francs (£20,0i>0). To raise this sum a
special issue of stamps was proposed. The
swindle— no other name can be found for the
thing — had reached such proportions that Postal
Officials bought up the stamps handed to them
and sold them at a premium to the public.
Clerks of the various agents for foreign dealers
have been cooling their heels in the approaches
of the Post Office from an early hour in order
to be able to snap up the stamps as soon as put
up for sale. At first it had been decided to
hand over all receipts for these stamps to the
Prince " as received," but one not quite void
of all tact proposed to hand over the £20,000
right away, and to recoup by selling a sufficient
quantity of these worthless labels. Up to now
only half the required sum has been realised,
and Boris stamps will still be printed till the
full amount of £20,000 has been realised.

We should like to hear the other side
of the story.

Designs on English Stamps.

We always enjoy the light philatelic
touche- of our versifying friend " I >ak "
in the columns of the Philatelic World
(Calcutta). Here is his latest — a hit at
the designs of current English stamps.

Once upon my Stamp was lined

Noble head of contour queenly ;
Xow upon my Stamp I find

Vapid face that smirks serenely.
Then a regal head, and grand,

Simply graced each postal billet ;
Now a paltry profile, and

Lots of scrolls supremely silly.
Gracious me ! 'tis passing queer,

Spite of Ait's un. easing wooing —
Though the reign's demise is near,

Still we stick to De-la-Bueing.-
Chuck the stuff! ! To Heath and Wyon.

Who designed our earliest label,
I'll revert the British Lion

Just as quick as I am ahle ! !

DAK.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

philatelic Qossiyp.

A Postage Calculator.

According to the Philatelic World
(Calcutta) a novel system of paying
postage on letters, a so called "postage
adder," has been accepted by the German
postal authorities. The new apparatus
is intended to save labour and time to
such firms or individuals as have a very
large business correspondence. It will
do away with their using postage stamps,
and enable them to pay for their postage
according to the figures registered by the
little apparatus.

This apparatus, in the shape of a box, is not
very large, and bears in the front several dials
arranged like tbose of a gas meter, showing
units, tens, hundreds and thousands, &c. ; under-
neath the dials there are six push-buttons, each
of which bears a figure corresponding with the
values of the German postage stamps principally
in use, viz. : 3. 4, 10, 20, 25 and 50 pfennigs.
A long narrow slot is provided which will admit
the letters to be stamped. Within the box just
over the slot there is a steel die, representing a
characteristic symbol ; in this case the arms of
Germany, with the inscription " Deutsche
Eeichspost" as well as an unchangeable number,
which is the registered number of the apparatus.
Below this there are a stamp, giving the date and
hour, and a wheel containing dies for the various
values, fastened in such a way that the six
push-buttons control the wheel bearing the
figure dies, while the clock-work regulating the
day and time, is accessible only to the postal
clerk, who comes to inspect the apparatus once
a week. If a number of letters are to be post-
marked, they are placed one by one in the
slot, and a pressure upon the knob on the top of
the apparatus will stamp the necessary amount
upon the envelope with indelible ink. The
stamping of an envelope takes less than two
seconds, so that with some practice it is possible
to postmark about 2000 letters per hour with
this little apparatus. A further advantage of
this system is that it is not necessary to cancel
this postmark at the post-office, which will save
considerable work there. Another advantage
is the possibility of paying for the postage, say,
once a month, which is there regarded as of
considerable benefit to both the public and the
postal authorities. Since the apparatus registers
automatically the entire amount of postage used
by a firm, and since the mail matter placed into
a post-office can be revised and counted off
without much trouble by the postal clerk in
charge at the receiving window for mail thus
stamped, it will always be possible to compare
the figures of the machine with those of the
postal department, without entailing much
labour upon the clerk receiving the matter. The
new apparatus has been patented by a Munich
engineer, and bids fair to revolutionize to a

great extent the present system of selling
stamps.

Mr. Castle on himself.
Mr. Castle has been beguiled by the
seductive editors of the Philatelic World
(Calcutta), into the following bit of Phi-
latelic autobiography : —

I was born on October 28th, 1849. At the
age of thirteen I made my first collection, out
of which I was promptly swindled by a quon-
dam dealer. At the age of seventeen! went for
a year to Frankfort a/m., where I made a
really decent collection. I can recollect buying
unused Thurn and Taxis and Oldenburgs un-
used at 3s, 6d. the set. That collection was
stolen, I fancy, by a schoolmate, and big as I
was, I remember having a good howl ! 1 com-
menced my next collection when I was twenty-
four, after my marriage and settlement in
Brighton. This collection went on very quietly
for five or six years, until a sudden change of
life drove me into stamps as a solace, and I
forthwith went plunging, until in 1885, I had
a large and valuable collection (some 50 books
for adhesives, envelopes, &c, &c.) I was omni-
vorous and took Russian and U.S. locals, and
everything used and unused. In 1885 the flood
of new Peruvians (unlucky horse shoes !) Por-
tuguese Indies, &c, drove me from general
collecting, and up to last year I confined my-
self entirely to Australian stamps (including
Philippines and other islands). But— there is
always a " but" — some six years ago I started,
what I thought a veiy small affair, a collection
of Europeans in addition. Twelve months
since I took stock, and I found neither time,
energy nor funds would allow me to collect
both groups as 1 should like to. So I came
to the parting of the ways, and mainly be-
cause my Oceanian were nearly complete,
while Europe's work lay before me, I decided
to part with the former. As you know, they
were given away for a paltry sum to Messrs.
Stanley, Gibbons, Limited. I am now hard
at woik on Europeans, and hope (D.V.) to
have them as fine as the Australians. I have
at the present time mounted thirty-four books,
but I have a lot to do yet. The collection
consists almost entirely of unused stamps.
In the "Dead States," such as Germany,
Italy, Switzerland and Moldavia, I take both
used and unused. Some of the countries in
unused condition present, to my mind, a beauti-
ful appearance, and I fancy would be a revela-
tion to those who have never seen fine
Europeans. They are as interesting as almost
any other groups of stamps, and nearly as
handsome in many cases. I need hardy say
I have worked hard to keep them together. 1

have spent well, " quite a lot," and have

a vague idea that the money and labour are all
thrown awav.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

117

Outside my collection my stamp work is not
light. Expert Committee, Philatelic Societies'
correspondence (I belong to about a dozen
Societies), approval selections, correspondents'
enquiries, the London Philatelist editorial
work and general correspondence, take me on
an average two or three hours a day all the
year round, and I am loth to add to it, hence
my letters are generally short and always
illegible. I can only say that I have always
had the greatest liking for stamp collecting, and,
however long or short my future span may be,
I shall always be at heart a Philatelist.

Nevis 4d., litho.
A good story is told of the adventures
of a block of four unused 4d. Nevis,
lithographed. An American collector
bought the block in London some three
years ago for £2. He offered it to a dealer
for £6, but he refused it, and the stamps
were sold to a collector for £7 12s. Od.
A year or so later the dealer, who ap-
parently had been ruminating, changed
his mind, and secured the block for £10.
Subsequently, it was put up at auction,
and sold for £22 12s. Od., and the pur-
chaser sold it back to its former owner
for £38 10s. Od. It is now said to have
come back to London, the original owner
having paid £40 for it, and he in turn is
credited with expecting to sell it for £60.

The Cuban Insurgents' Stamp.

The following from the New York Sun
shows that the Cuban Insurgents in
search of funds have a keen eye on flats
of the Philatelic persuasion. The open-
ing of an office in New York for the sale
of the stamps, is quite enough to show
the object of the issues.

The postal system which has been perfected
by the Cuban insurgents on the island and the
Junta in this city, commenced operating yester-
day. The stamps of the Cuban republic were
put on sale in several places which have been
designated by the Junta as postal stations, of
which there are many in Florida, where many
Cubans live. Station No. 1 is at the office of
the Cuban paper El Porvenir, and a number of
stamps, which are of two, five, ten and twenty-
five denominations, were sold there, and also at
the offices of the Junta, in this city.

Senor Octavas Zayas is the Postmaster in
this city. The letters he receives are stamped,
and the stamps cancelled, with implements
which have been made for that purpose. Then
the letters are sent to Cuba through channels
which are known only to the Junta. When
the letters arrive in Cuba they are stamped
again and delivered to the proper persons.
The stamps will be returned to the Post-
masters in the different cities whence the
letters came, to be sold to stamp collectors.
The Junta are certain that they can carry out
their plans, and deliver safely all letters en-
trusted to their care, whereas, now almost all
letters received on the island are opened by the
Spanish authorities, and many are confiscated.

U.S. Periodical Stamps.

U.S. collectors seem to be rather at a
disadvantage in their own country in the
matter of getting the Periodical Stamps
for their collections. They are not sold
at the Post Offices — indeed, the most
stringent instructions have been issued to
prevent Postmasters from selling them,
and one firm of stamp dealers across the
water has been frightened into announc-
ing that they will not in future deal in
them, either used or unused, on the
ground that under existing legislation it
is impossible to hold these stamps legiti-
mately in America without laying oneself
open to a criminal prosecution. They
can always be got on this side "as a
favour."

Philatelic Exhibitions Abroad.

The Hague Exhibition, which is being
got up by the Netherlands Philatelic
Society, will be open from July 17th to
22nd. The jury consists of four Dutch
gentlemen, Bernichon of Paris, Petritz of
Dresden, and Theodor Buhl of London.
Further particulars may be had from our
publishers.

In August there will be an exhibition
at Geneva. The Committee contains many
well-known names. Mr. P. Castle is one
of the jury.

The Johannesburg Society.

The South African Philatelist announces
that—

The liquidators of the defunct Johannesburg
Philatelic Society have at length wound up the
affairs of that Society, having realised the assets
and distributed the proceeds. The members
have good reason to be satisfied with the result,
having received as their share something like
£9 lUs, (Scott's Catalogue value) in unused
Swazieland stamps for about £1 os. cash paid
by way of subscription, besides the other bene-
fits which they received during the existence
of the Society. The corresponding members
also received their proportion of the assets.

"The Australian Philatelist."
Our excellent Australian contemporary,
the Australian Philatelist, will in future
be edited by Mr. A. F. Basset Hull, Avhose
name will be familiar to English phila-
telists as that of a cultured writer on the
stamps of Oceania. There is to be no
change in the policy of the paper and no
alteration in its style or arrangement,
except that it will exclude all trade
notices and advertisements.

This course was taken in deference to the
expressed wishes of some philatelic friends, and
though naturally lessening the publisher's op-
portunities for bringing his business before
collectors, it will be continued for the future in
the hope that such unselfish conduct will not
o'O unrewarded.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Speculative Stamps.

The Society for the Suppression of Speculative Stamps.

Circular No. 5.

The Society, in conjunction with the
Special Committee appointed by the
London Philatelic Society, having taken
into consideration the Stamps mentioned
below, are of opinion that they are not
worth the attention of Philatelists, and
appeal to all Collectors and Dealers to
discountenance collecting or dealing in
the same.

21. Ecuador. —The Government of this
Country is an old offender, and its delinquencies
were referred to in a previous circular. (See
No. 4, paragraph 17).

From a Circular Notice in four languages)
dated 5th December, 1895, it appears that a
special postage stamp is to be issued on the
5th June, 1896, which will be available for
postal purposes only on the day of issue, and
ten following days. This issue is to com-
memorate the Esmeralda Incident. It is
perhaps scarcely necessary to advise dealers to
beware of* it.

22. Indian Native States.— The postal

departments of several of these States either
have been or are ahout to be taken over by the
Central Government. In the case of Jhind
and Cashmere this has already been done, and it
is reported that a similar course has been, or is
shortly to be adopted, with regard to Bamra,

Bhopal, Poonah, Wadhwan, Novvaimgger, Bhor,
Nangaon, and Faridkot.

It appears that the issues of some of these
States have been reprinted, and are now being
offered for sale. Collectors and Dealers should
therefore be on their guard.

23. Republic of Cuba.— Stamps of an
issue prepared in 1877 are now being offered
for sale. The values are %2, 5. 10, and 25
ceatavos.

In the Third Circular, under the
heading No. 13, reference was made to a con-
templated speculative issue of Grecian Siamps
to commemorate the Olympian Games. From
a recently published notice, the issue appears
now to be an accomplished fact, and to consist
of twelve stamps in value from 1 lepta to 10
drachmas.

Bulgaria. — An issue has appeared in com-
memoration of the conversion of Prince Boris.

Collectors and Dealers should exercise discre-
tion with regard to these stamps, unless they
are intended permanently to supersede the
current issue.
Hy order,

HERBERT R. OLDFIELD,

April, 189:5.

lion. Secretary to Special Committee.

London Philatelic Society, and

Acting /Ton. Sec. (pro tern ) to S.S.S.S,

(Correspondence.

3d. Natal, perf. wmk. star.

Sir, — With reference to Mr. Skipwith's
letter, re above, we had in stock a short
time ago a 3d. Natal perforated, on
entire, dated March, 1860, and unwat r-
marked.

This seems to corroborate to a certain
extent, Mr. Skipwith's theory that cata-
logue compilers are in error in ascribing
1860 as the date of the star watermark,
and 1862 for the no watermark.

If the catalogue dates were correct,
this stamp would scarcely be so rare as it
undoubtedly is. — Yours faithfully,

Taylor Bros.

Dear Sir, — Keferringto my letter of
enquiry, which appeared in your February
number, respecti.ig Natal 3d blue, water-
mark star, perf., I may say that, foolishly
confiding in all the current catalogues,

including the elaborate one by Messrs.
Collin & Caiman, I assumed that my
specimen was watermarked with a star.
On examination I find it to be without
watermark, which issue is not catalogued
until 1862, or three years later than the
date I gave. I was not permitted to take
the entire envelope, only to cut out the
stamp with the postmark, so I copied the
dates at the time. I am advised by
eminent London Philatelists that not a
single copy of the 3d. star perforated is
known to, exist. If this is so, why do all
the principal dealers still go on giving it a
place in their list without any note or
query ? I do not collect Natal myself,
and only thought the date might interest
those who do ; there is no doubt this
stamp should be catalogued as being
issued in 1859, if not earlier. — Yours
faithfully, J. Kershaw Skipwith,

CURRENT BUSINESS NOTES.

119

Current business Jfotes*

By Theodor Buhl.

A Philatelic Club.

Announcements have been made of the
intention to open a Philatelic Club and
Exchange for stamp collectors in the
West End. The following note on the
matter is culled from a City paper : — ■

What may possibly prove a very useful
undertaking has just been started with the
name of the Philatelic Club and Exchange
Limited, Stamp collectors are known to be
ardent pursuers of their particular collections,
and anything in the nature of an efficient ex-
change would certainly command a suitable
amount of support. The capital is fixed at
£1*2,000, in £1 shares, and the idea is to pro-
vide and maintain a suitable building for a
Philatelic Club and Exchange in London.

And the following particulars are given
in another City paper. Beyond this, and
the advertisement which appears in our
pages, I have no further information.

This company was registered on April 1st,
with a capital of £12,000, in £1 shares, to
adopt an agreement with P. P. Kennedy, and
to cany on a Philatelic Club and Exchange in
London. The subscribers are : —

Shares.
A. J. Pettengill, 60, Watling Street, E.C..

secretary ... ... ... ... ... 1

F. H. Sayle, 57, Arlingford Poad. Tulse

Hill, clerk 1

II. Povce, &% Old Kent Poad, S.E., clerk 1
W. M. H. Pray, *). Stockwell Park Road,

Clnpham, accountant 1

E. W. Walker, 19, Queen Victoria Street,

E.C., accountant ... 1

H. L. Harris, 47, Victoria Street, S/W,

accountant ... ... ... ... 1

A. Laycock, 26, Prailsford Poad, Brixton,

agent ... ... ... ... ... 1

Table A mainly applies. Registered by J.
Pettengill, 60, Watling Street, E.C.

Auctions.

We have fixed our next sale for 18th
and 19th May. It will comprise some
excellent Colonials and South Americans
which are now coming very much to the
front. Messrs- Ventom, Bull & Cooper,
on May 14th and loth, will offer the
grand collection of Sir Henry Bunbury,
and Messrs. Puttick & Simpson have a
more than usually fine lot for sale on the
4th and 5th of May.

Mr. Hadlow, at the end of May, will
offer a practically complete collection of
West Indians, used and unused of nearly
every stamp. St. Vincents, he tells me,

are very fine, and include the 5s. star,
used and unused ; all the shillings, used
and unused with gum, &c.

Novelties.

Just now there is a run on Africans :
British South Africa, Zanzibar, and
British East Africa being much in de-
mand. We have just received a full
supply of sets of the new British South
Africa stamps, which we are offering at
4s. 6d. for the eight stamps.

No Depression in Stamps.

Some people are very fond of talking
about a prevailing depression in stamps.
Personally I have never been able to find
any real all-round evidence of such a
depression outside the croaking of a few.
The fluctuation in certain countries, due
to temporary changes of what may be
termed fashion in collecting, cannot be
construed into anything in the shape of
a depression. The best barometer is to
be found in the results of auction sales.
Some countries, it is said, have been a
little overdone, and there has been a
natural reaction. But average stamps
sell well. At my last auction, for in-
stance, although there was little that
could be called " gilt edged," there was
a splendid attendance, plenty of commis-
sions, brisk competition, and prices so
good that as an auctioneer with a keen
eye on the com., I could not complain.

The Hague Exhibition.

As a member of the jury I shall per-
sonally be attending the Hague Exhibi-
tion in July, and shall be very pleased to
take charge of any Exhibits which any
intending English Exhibitors may wish
to send over. Amongst those Exhibits
which have already been entrusted to my
care is a grand collection, absolutely
complete, of Spain and Colonies all un-
used, every stamp being in mint condi-
tion. A curiosity has been handed to
me as an Exhibit in the shape of six
china plates covered with designs made
out of stamps and pieces of stamps.
Our English collectors might with great
advantage more frequently attend conti-
nental exhibitions of postage stamps.
Different methods of arranging, &c, are
worth studying.

120

NOTABLE STAMPS AT AUCTION.

Jfotohlo Stamps at Ruction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

VENTOM, BULL & COOPER, March 11 & 12,
1896.

£ s. d.
Ceylon, 8d. brown, star, perf.* ... 7 15 0
Dutch Indies, Unpaid, 5c. yellow,

pair

pan"

5 10 0

Great Britain, I.E. Official, £1
green, a vert, pair, with Account
Branch cancel 7 10 0

New Brunswick, Is. violet, small
tear, otherwise fine 10 0 0

Newfoundland, 6Jd. carmine-red... 12 0 0

St. Vincent, Id. rose-red, imperf..

£7 15s. and 9 0 0

March 24 & 25, 1896.

Newfoundland, Is. carmine-ied,

cut close at bottom ... ... 10 10 0

Queensland, Id. lake, imperf. pair

on entire ... ... ... ... 6 10 0

Spain (1852). 2 reales, red 12 12 6

Switzerland, Basle, 2 Jr. ...

Tuscany, 60cr. red

3 10 0
9 0 0

PUTTICK & SIMPSON, March 16 & 17, 1896.
Great Britain, I.E Official, £1

ffi'een ... ... ••• ••• 4 4 0

£ s. d.

New Brunswick, Is. mauve, fine.

but touched one side ... ... 13 0 0

Nova Scotia, Is. deep violet, cut

close 17 0 0

Turks Islands, Is. prune, two

perfs. off 14 14 0

March 30 & 31, 1896.

Canada, Od. purple-grey, perf., on

thin vert, laid 0 17 6

lc. red-brown, on hor. laid* ... 4 15 0

Ceylon, 4d. rose, imperf., bad crease,

otherwise fine ... ... ... 12 12 0

16c. lilac, CA.* 10 10 0

Naples, Jt. blue, arms, fine but

dirty ' ... ... 13 0 0

Another,* but slight stain and no

gum 18 10 0

Spain (1852), 2 reales red 9 15 0

CH EVE LEY & CO., March 18 & 19, 1896.
Ceylon, 2s. blue, imperf., bottom

line touched* 10 0 0

Nevis, fld. litho* 12 10 0

New Brunswick, Is. violet, fine,

but cut close 14 10 0

Jfotices.

Editorial Communications. — Articles of
special interest will be paid for. M.S. dealing with
particular points in an exhaustive manner will be
most welcome. As we wish to arrange matter in
advance, we shall be glad to hear from Specialists
who are open to write up their special countries.

All communications on Editorial matters should
be addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J

Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Letters
enclosing valuables should be registered.

Subscriptions. — The Philatelic Record
and Stamp News will be sent post free to any
subscriber at home or abroad, on receipt of 3s.
Subscribers' remittances should be sent to the
Publishers, Messrs. Buhl & Co., Limited, 1 1,
Queen Victoria Street, London, England.

Our Advertisement Rates.— Price per Insertion, net.

Single.

3 months.

6 months.

12 months.

Whole Page

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Accounts for a series payable quarterly. Single insertion payable in advance.

CHARLES JOHES.PfHHTER.

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News,

MAY, 1896.

Qditorial J^otes.

HE proposal to hold a grand International Philatelic Exhibition in

London next year has made practical progress during the past

month. In the first place the matter was brought before a

meeting of the Philatelic Society of London, and a resolution

was unanimously adopted on the motion of Mr. M. P. Castle,

seconded by Mr. E. J. Nankivell, "that this meeting is of

opinion that the time has arrived when another International Philatelic

Exhibition in the Metropolis might advantageously be held." It is true

pr , that an opinion was generally expressed that although the

Exhibiti Society could not undertake the entire management, as on the

. lgq7 last occasion, it should co-operate in any scheme which might

be initiated by those interested in the movement. No one will

gainsay the fact that it would be eminently unfair to expect the Society

again to shoulder, unaided, so great a burden.

Following upon the news being spread of the proposal to hold another
great Philatelic Exhibition, the Directors of the Crystal Palace promptly and
generously offered the Palace for the purpose, and that offer is now under
serious consideration. A Committee of Collectors and Dealers was forthwith
appointed to confer with the manager of the Palace, and to report to an
adjourned meeting of the Council of the Philatelic Society, the leading dealers,
and Editors of the Philatelic Press.

How far the Crystal Palace may be suitable and available for the purpose
will entirely depend upon the report of the influential Committee appointed to
go into the details. That Committee comprises leading collectors and dealers
who command the confidence of all branches of the philatelic fraternity, and
may therefore be trusted to recommend the best available site for the Exhibi-
tion. There are some outside of the Committee who shake their heads over
the prospect of an Exhibition at the Palace. They dread a prohibitive charge
for insurance risks, and, whilst admitting that it may be desirable from the
cheap packets and sets dealers' point of view, contend that it will not result in
a large and frequent attendance of desirable collectors. Against these gloomy
forebodings those in favour of the Palace, and they are many and powerful,
contend that it will be a more attractive meeting place for all concerned, that

122 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

the Palace authorities remove the great burden of the cost of exhibition cases
and expensive rooms elsewhere, and that they will advertise the Exhibition a
great deal more than any Committee could afford to do if saddled with the
immense deadweight of expensive rooms and the provision of expensive exhi-
bition cases. These are the pros and cons of informal discussion. In all
probability the site will be provisionally decided upon before our next month's
issue. Meanwhile we may be content with the knowledge that the preliminaries
are now in good hands for a serious and, we hope, a successful effort to get up
a grand International Exhibition of Postage Stamps in the spring or early
summer of next year.

t h 11 The question, " What shall we condemn ?" or, " What shall we,

, „ or what can we, agree in condemning ?" is rapidly and
we condemn \ , ' 6- - -r _ . , ° . v, J , ,

surely assuming an acute form. It is becoming acute solely

because we do not all see eye to eye on this most important question. We
are all, collectors and dealers, admittedly intensely interested in a wise and
judicious solution of this problem. That being so, let us confer together that
we may arrive at a satisfactory and acceptable compromise. All admit that
the S.S.S.S. has already done good work, that it has effectually closed the
floodgates against much that was most undesirable, and that it has demonstrated
the possibility of organising such incorporate bodies as collectors and dealers
generally in a successful revolt against the ever increasing flood of bogus or
unnecessary issues. And now, for the sake of the pursuit that yields so much
genuine pleasure and profit, do not let us get at each other's throats just
because we differ now and then on the condemnation of some particular issue.
The S.S.S.S. started with the intention of setting its ban upon all issues
that bear unmistakable evidence of being speculative or unnecessary. It
acted in response to an outspoken and long ripening revolt against the con-
tinually increasing flood of speculative and unnecessary issues. It directed its
efforts especially against the ridiculous "commemorative stamps" that were
*' made for sale " to collectors. These " commemoratives " were only announced
in " limited " quantities, and for a prescribed and definite time. The wily
speculator, acting on the known fondness of the stamp collector for ephemeral
issues, set himself to supply what he imagined to be a genuine demand, and
now that he is convinced by the ban of the S.S.S.S. that his particular variety
of ephemeral issue is objected to on the ground that it serves no postal need,
says, " Very well, anything to meet your wishes, gentlemen ; we will keep our
little labels, that we offer you, in postal circulation for a time, so that you can
say they have done postal duty." The Olympians, to which we have alluded
elsewhere, are a clear case in point. They answer in every way the description
of what was to be regarded as speculative or unnecessary ; but now, to check-
mate the ban that has been placed upon them, they are to be continued in use
till October next. In such a case what are we to do ? Are we to remove
the ban ? If so, what is to be the basis of future action ? Or, are we to
admit a checkmate and retire defeated, and once more throw open the
floodgates to all the shoddy which we have by our support of the S.S.S.S.
dammed back ? These are the questions that confront us, and the only way
to arrive at a satisfactory solution is for the S.S.S.S. and the Speculative Issues
Committee of the Philatelic Society of London to jointly call a public meeting
of collectors and dealers to discuss the most desirable compromise as a basis
for future action. It will be most unwise to face, for a single moment longer
than is abolutely necessary, the danger of defection or unwise individual
action. This is essentially a question in which our strength must rest upon
our being brought into general agreement, and being thus enabled to act
upon a basis which shall command the loyal support of all self-respecting
collectors and dealers.

EDITORIAL NOTES. 123

Illustrations
of

The decision in the Queen's Bench in the case of illustrations
of postage stamps used in the Bazaar Philatelists Supplement
has gone against the Bazaar. A report of the case will be
* found on another page. We regret the decision. It may be a
amps' serious blow to philatelic interests. It may interfere with the
illustration of albums and catalogues as well as with chronicles, or it may not.
It depends upon the lengths to which the authorities are determined to push
the temporary victory they have won. By reason of a technicality, we under-
stand there is no appeal against this particular decision, and that therefore it
will be impossible to carry it to the House of Lords. That it must yet be
fought to the House of Lords no one doubts, as there are those who are
prepared to question the decision, and to accept a challenge to go to the
House of Lords. For our own part, we should prefer to admit the control of
the authorities over the right to illustrate postage stamps, provided they would
recognise the rational needs of illustration by granting a license to responsible
and trustworthy persons. All that the postal authorities need is such a control
as will secure them from an improper use of the dies of postage stamps. The
care exercised over the use of dies of postage stamps used for illustration
purposes, extending over a period of more than a quarter of a century, fully
entitles the Philatelic Press of this country to protection against unnecessary
interference in this matter.

" Colonial English," which is Kitchen Dutch for a move in
"Colonial favour of regarding colonially postmarked English stamps as
English." Colonial English, or Colonials, has received a very serious
check. The curious notion was first mooted by Mr. Hilckes in
his catalogue of English stamps, and since then he has gone on preaching to
the philatelic wayfarer, especially to those wayfarers gathered into the City of
London Philatelic Club, this new gospel of his. With an activity and an
enterprise worthy of a better cause he made converts right and left, till at last
he thought his progeny might be trusted to face the east winds of a public
debate. Consequently he gathered his chickens together under his wings one
eventful evening in April. But the east winds were too strong for the scantily-
clothed chicks, and the debate resulted in an overwhelming decision that a
postmark does not alter the nationality of a stamp, and the unanimous
acceptance of the following resolution : — " That although this Club is of
opinion that a postmark does not alter the nationality of a postage stamp, it
regards the collection of English stamps used abroad as being full of interest
to philatelists." Hence, the official centre of " Colonial English " has
decided that " Colonial English " belong to the Postmark Collector, and not to
the philatelist otherwise than as interesting postmarks. The chicks which
survived have been taken back to the Cheapside incubator, and may be brought
out for another airing later on.

Burglaries of stamps have been unpleasantly frequent of late

A Burglary years, and some have been of a particularly daring character.

of Stamps at The latest victims are, we sincerely regret to hear, the well-

Puttick's. known firm of stamp auctioneers, Messrs. Puttick & Simpson.

As we go to press we learn that on the 28th of this month, in the

morning at half-past four — in broad daylight, in fact— a burglar came to the

stamp collector's door and burst it open. Then the thief went upstairs, and a

couple of thousand pounds' worth of valuable stamps lay at his disposal. He

snatched up four albums and silently decamped. The four albums he took

were the least valuable in the whole collection, and are said to be worth only

£5 or £10- Fortunately the more valuable stamps were in glass cases in

another part of the building.

i24 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Qarly Jssuos of Ij^Q^tovri Australia.

By Lipman E. Hush.

The First Issue of Western Australia.

LL the stamps of Western Australia enumerated on p. 97 of the
Record are known rouletted. Whether they were all issued from
the Post-office in this state is not known. Moens had some sent
to him in this state, but it is not probable that all were issued in
this state, as we find that stamps of the second issue were issued
imperforate. Fine copies showing the roulettes all round are
almost unattainable now, and collectors must judge for themselves whether
they are to be taken as philatelic rarities or merely as curiosities. The One
Penny was printed in sheets of 240. The Fourpence and One Shilling were
also printed in sheets of 240. There were probably fewer stamps to the sheet
of the Twopence and Sixpence values, as the paper was all the same size,
and would not hold so many even by using up the margins. And although I
have never seen a copy of the Twopence or Sixpence with a marginal edge, I
judge from copies of the Twopence printed on both sides, which often show
the front stamp well centred, and on the back the impression is cut into two —
that is the space between two stamps was opposite the centre of the stamp
printed on the other side.

The Second Issue of Western Australia.

In January, i860, Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co. made four new plates for
four values new to them, viz. : Twopence, Fourpence, Sixpence, and One
Shilling. These plates differ in two points from the first one made by the
same firm.

(1). The plate for the One Penny stamps contains 240 dies.
The new plates contained 120 each.

(2). The central design in each is the same, but if we examine the
margins on which the words (l.) Western, (t.) Postage,
(k.) Australia, (b.) Two Pence appear, we shall see that in the
case of the One Penny stamp the border is reticulated, whereas
in the other values the groundwork of the border is perfectly
solid. Thus, whilst Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co. made four
new plates, stamps from only three of them were put into circu-
lation at the time.

i860. imperf. wmk. c swan.

Twopence pale orange, orange, vermilion.

Fourpence blue.

Sixpence sage green, sap green.

The Twopence and Sixpence are known rouletted.

This issue was not long in use, and copies of the Fourpence used are very
rare. I suppose that the colour of the Fourpence was too dark, and the first
Fourpence continued in use until the arrival of the Fourpence vermilion.
There were apparently sufficient One Shilling stamps in stock to supply the
needs of the Colony.

All the stamps of the second issue were printed in the Colony. Messrs.
Perkins, Bacon & Co. made the plates, and sent out a proof sheet of each with
the plates.

EARLY ISSUES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 125

Mr. Bacon informs us {London Philatelist, Dec, 1892) that they were sent
out on March 31st, i860. The plates were inspected and approved of by the
Colonial Authorities, and returned to England with all the " swan watermarked
paper" remaining, and on this the stamps of the third issue were printed.

The Third Issue of Western Australia.

In this issue the designs are, with one exception, unchanged. The colours
are, however, a certain distinguishing guide to the collector. A stamp of the
value of One Shilling is introduced, the design of which is similar to that of
the three higher values. This issue is either difficult or easy to deal with just
as the collector pleases ; but to the student of philately it is working in the
dark.

I have said that the plates and paper were returned from the Colony to the
printer, but I have not mentioned any particulars. Again I revert to the
London Philatelist. In a letter dated 17th December, i860, Messrs. Perkins,
Bacon & Co. wrote to the Crown Agents for the Colonies, saying " One of the
plates came to us materially damaged, and the paper was all injured by salt
water, but the amount of printing upon the face, and of gum upon the back of
the stamps, very nearly conceals this defect from the eye, so that we found it
would answer for you."

The stamps were urgently needed. They were ordered on December nth,
and were to be in Southampton in time for the mail steamer leaving on the
20th. There was, therefore, very little time to be wasted, and a first batch of
stamps were sent off by the said date. These stamps consisted of

24,000 id. rose.

6,000 2d. blue.

2,400 4d. carmine.

12,000 6d. lilac.

3,600 is. green.

The above I include in the first printing, and I think the following points
will distinguish them : —

(1). They are heavily printed.

(2). They all have blind perfs.

(3). Some of the colours vary, and appear to have run.

The id. is in rose,( and the impressions are blurred.

The 2d. is in blue, and the colour has run.

The 4d. is in a dull orange, vermilion shade.

The 6d. is on bleute paper caused by the action of the salt water.

The is. is in a deeper tone of green.

The 2d. and 4d. have not been catalogued with the rest of the series with
rough perfs., but I have seen them and am quite satisfied as to their existence.
They are undoubtedly rare, as the small number printed will show.

S9B&

126 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Stray ^fotes on transvaals.

I. By Edward J. Nankivell.

Growing Popularity.

HE growing popularity of the interesting old issues of the Transvaal
is now an unquestioned fact. The growth is slow, but it is steady.
The auction prices tell the tale. Those prices are still absurdly
low for such very rare stamps, but they are creeping up. A couple
of years ago mixed lots of Transvaals, of 20 to 40 stamps, ranging,
in the matter of catalogue value, from 5s. to 20s., and having a
fair run of good copies, rarely fetched more than an average of one shilling per
stamp. Now the average price is more than double, and when there is only a
small proportion of damaged copies the average runs as high as 4s. and 5s. per
stamp. In the sweet by-and-bye we shall look back on these prices and wish
we had not been so short-sighted as to let them pass without challenge.

For those who want a country to specialise that shall give them unlimited
scope, I am prepared to back my favourites against all corners. Of no country
can it be said that there is so much yet to learn. I have collected them for
close on ten years, and I have patiently studied them for the past seven years,
and yet, even with the excellent help afforded by Mr. Tamsen in unearthing
the official records, I feel that I am entering only the threshold of the inquiry.
In the collection of Transvaal diligent study and patient searching will in
the end outstrip even the longest pocket. Your wealthy collector can take up
such expensive old favourites as Buenos Ayres, Republic of Columbia, or Old
Swiss, and with a cheque book and a fair general knowledge he can in a few
weeks outstrip even the oldest collector of ordinary means. But to distance
the patient collector of Transvaals he must be provided with the specialist's
profound knowledge, or he will scatter his cheques wastefully on common
varieties and pass the real gems unheeded.

The reason for all this is not far to seek. The stamps of the old favourites
are well known and are generally priced pretty correctly in the matter of
relative rarity. But it is an extremely rare thing to find a dealer who so
thoroughly understands the grand range of the issues of the Transvaal. I
could not name one. The consequence is that although some of the gems are
fairly well known, such as the " Transvral " error ; the unsurcharged blue on
green, blue on rose, and violet on green ; and the wide roulettes ; there is still
a wide range of gloriously recurring opportunities to the watchful specialist of
picking up for a few shillings many splendid rarities.

A year or so ago, in company with my fellow collector, Mr. Pearce, I came
upon a run of a variety hitherto unknown to us, and we scooped it up. It is
not mentioned by Mr. Tamsen ; and Mr. C. J. Phillips, who knows more about
Transvaals than any other dealer with whom I am acquainted, had only seen
one other copy. I have gone through all the leading stocks, and have never
seen another copy. It is probably worth nearer /^io than £5. Our copies
were priced 5s. each, and would probably have been passed over by Mr. Long-
pocket as a common garden variety. This is by no means a solitary example
of patience and virtue rewarded. On the other hand the ordinary dealer, who
is not to be blamed for looking upon Transvaals as a confounded nuisance,
exemplifies Pope's dictum that —

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
He notices some peculiarity, and, fondly imagining he has caught a whale this
time, he prices it accordingly, and Mr. Longpocket comes along and makes out

STRAY NOTES ON TRANSVAALS. 127

his cheque with a satisfied grimace. The specialist, looking over his shoulder,
recognises a sprat, and smiles approvingly, for, says he to himself, if a sprat
will fetch out such a cheque, what a small fortune my genuine whales will be
worth some day. Ah, some day ! That same " some day" plays an important
and well-recognised part in the daily life of every sanguine philatelist.

What does the Postmaster General mean?

With the aid of a kindly interpreter I have been conning a copy of the
Annual Report of the Postmaster General of the South African Republic for
the year 1895, for which I am indebted to that courteous official. But I am
sorely puzzled by the following paragraphs, which I cull from the Report : —

Generally, but especially in foreign countries, there is a great desire to collect defaced postage
stamps for arrangement in albums, and in many cases very nigh prices are paid for such stamps.
On account of the delay in executing the orders for stamps in Europe, the Treasurer General has
been obliged to have recourse to surcharging stamps of higher value so as to reduce the value in
order to provide a temporary want. Such surcharged stamps are eagerly bought up by stamp
collectors, but as surcharges in this country occur rather frequently, especially lately, an attempt
has been made to get these stamps out of the trade.

I think it a good sign. Such stamps, to my idea, are not intended for such purposes of trading.
As long as they are used for free correspondence we cannot but admit that they are put to their
proper requirements.

What does Mr. Van Alphen mean ? He talks about " the trade " as though
he were discussing the requirements of a customer. Surely the Postal Depart-
ment of the Transvaal has not come so low as that. The Transvaal is a
wealthy State. Its Postal Department has no need to stoop to shady subter-
fuges to eke out a revenue for the State as do some of the rag-tag-and-bob-tail
Central and South American Republics. Why, then, in a State document
discuss the idiosyncracies of the stamp-dealing trade ? What is the object of
the reference ? Will Mr. Van Alphen allay the doubts which must arise, by an
explanation ?

The Postmaster General of the Transvaal may rest assured that if he
imagines that he is doing a service to stamp collectors by catering specially for
their requirements, he is making a very grievous mistake indeed. All that
stamp collectors require is that a State shall attend to is own postal require-
ments, utterly regardless of the existence of stamp collectors. The postage
stamps which represent those requirements, and those requirements only, will
be of engrossing interest to stamp collectors, who on the other hand will
regard with well deserved contempt catch-penny issues made at the suggestion
of such parasites as speculating stamp collectors and stamp dealers.

I sincerely hope and believe that Mr. Van Alphen will be able to assure
us that we have no need to fear such a prostitution of the integrity of the
Postal Department under his charge.

Such an assurance from him just now will do much to allay the doubts
which have naturally been occasioned by certain recent dealings of postmasters
or assistant postmasters in the Transvaal. Collectors do not object to
surcharges so long as they are genuine, and are not manipulated at the
suggestion of speculators, or sorted over by speculators for the purpose of
getting money from collectors.

i28 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

®lxjm$iari Stamps of Qreeco.

By the Editor.

HE special issue of postage stamps, now known as the " Olympian
Series," is likely to provide a bone of contention in philatelic
circles. The intended issue was placed under the ban of the
S.S.S.S. in Circular No. 3, published in December, 1895. In that
Circular the issue was listed under the statement that "Commem-
orative Stamps have also been announced to be about to appear for
the following places, and collectors and dealers are therefore warned before-
hand concerning them." All that was then known was that a series of stamps
was to be issued to commemorate the intended revival of the Olympian
Games. It was then suspected that the issue was not to meet postal require-
ments, but simply to " commemorate" at the expense of dealers and collectors
of postage stamps. That suspicion has been justified up to the hilt. The
issue has from first to last had no relation whatever to postal requirements.
It was advised and adopted on the ground that a new issue of stamps by
Greece would be snapped up by stamp collectors in such quantities as to
abundantly provide the necessary funds for properly celebrating the Olympian
Games. The stamps have been issued, and as they have probably not sold in
satisfactory quantities, we are now told that they are, by Royal decree dated
28th March last, to remain in use from the 6th of April to the 13th of October,
1896.

Up to the publication of this Royal decree everything has justified the
severest condemnation of the issue as a purely speculative one. We would in
particular refer our readers to a correspondence published in the American
Journal of Philately in November last. In that correspondence is a letter from
the President of the Athens Philatelic Club, offering the Scott Stamp and
Coin Co. the monopoly of the entire issue of the stamp of 1 lepton
at a discount under face value. To their credit, the Scott Stamp and
Coin Co. refused the offer, and in doing so wrote, " From the standpoint of
philately, this particular issue to celebrate the Olympian Games is too ridiculous
to be mentioned, and we hope sincerely that collectors will be able to make it
so unprofitable as to prevent any such abuse in the future. Governments of
good standing should be ashamed of lending their names to issues of this
character, and it is hoped that by the concerted exertions of stamp collectors
and dealers in Europe and America other Governments will be dissuaded from
carrying into execution similar projects." In reply, the President of the
Athens Philatelic Club gave himself and his case away by contending that
" the Helenic Government has not, like some other States, proceeded to issue
these stamps as a speculation, but to help the Commission of the Olympian
Games, which has to go to considerable expense in order to give a new lustre
to these festivities."

Here we have the speculative character of the issue openly admitted. They
are all the more speculative and unnecessary, from the stamp collector's point
of view, because the profit is diverted to non-postal ends.

Now comes a Royal decree generously extending the period of sale till
October next, when, we are told, the issue is to be demonetised in favour of a
new Government issue. The generosity of the Royal decree lies in the fact that
the Government consents to an extended alienation of postal revenue evidently
in order to enable the shrewd promoters of the Olympian series to realise their
anticipated sales.

The series is unquestionably a most interesting one, and the probability is

OLYMPTAN STAMPS OF GREECE

129

^m^^m^a^ms^w^K

THE OLYMPIAN STAMPS,

130 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

that many collectors, who quite agree with the ban placed upon them by the
S.S.S.S., will purchase them as a curiosity, and the fact that they are to-day
freely franking letters will tend to shake the allegiance of not a few in the
wisdom of the condemnation of the S.S.S.S. Nevertheless these Olympians
answer, in every particular, to the most objectionable class of stamps that are
speculative and unnecessary, and the question naturally arises whether collectors
and dealers are going to hold together in their loyal support of a condemnation
justified to the very letter by every scrap of reliable evidence, or whether they
are going to allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the extended use of the
series. The probabilities are that the sale of the series has been seriously
crippled by the ban of the S.S.S.S., and that if that ban is loyally adhered to
those collectors who desire a few sets as curiosities will be able to procure them
when they are demonetised at their real value of a few pence instead of the
twenty to thirty shillings now charged for them.

There is yet another point to be considered in discussing the ban placed
on these stamps. We are told that these Olympian Games are to be held
every four years in one or other of the great capitals of Europe. Therefore,
the question arises are we collectors and dealers going to remove the ban we
have placed on these stamps, by collective or individual action, and so
establish a precedent for future celebrations at our expense. Surely we are
not going to be so foolish and short-sighted.

As a matter of interest we illustrate the series and give the following
details as to the designs : —

The 1 lepton and 2 lepta denominations have Corinthian columns at the sides and a
central design showing two ancient wrestlers.

The 5 and 10 lepta have Ionic columns and in the centre a reproduction of Myron's
famous statue " Discobolus " (quoit or discus thrower).

The 20 and 40 lepta are larger and show an antique vase standing in a niche of
mosaic with Corinthian columns at the sides and an elaborately decorated arch above.

The 25 and 60 lepta are the same size, but the design is placed horizontally and
shows in the centre a quadriga or four-horse chariot.

The 1 drachma has in the foreground a reconstruction of the stadium or race course
in which the ancient Olympian Games were held, and in the background a distant view
of the acropolis as it is to-day.

The 2 and 5 drachmas both show famous statues standing in niches of mosaic, the
former represents the Hermes (or Mercury) of Praxiteles, with Ionic columns, and the
latter represents the Nike (or Victory) by Paeonius, with Corinthian columns.

The 10 drachmas, the highest value of the series, has another view of the acropolis
with female figures at the sides supporting the arch.

The stamps are typographed on wove paper and are perforated 13 £. The four
lower values are small, the others being large, and either oblong or rectangular in shape.

11. brown, "Wrestlers.

21. rose, „

51. violet, The Disc Thrower of Myron.

101- Sre7>

201. brown red, Vase with Minerva.

251, red, Four-horse Chariot.

401. violet, Vase with Minerva.

601. black, Four-horse-Chariot.

ldr. blue, Stadium at Athens.

2dr. brown, The Hermes of Praxiteles

5dr. green, The Victory of Paeonius.

lOdr. brown, The Acropolis of Athens.

ORANGE FREE STATE ISSUES. 131

(grange ^tqo £>tate Issues.

From the South African Philatelist.

{Concluded from page 105.)

AST month we gave an excellent sketch of the history of the
postal issues of the Orange Free State from the pages of the
South African Philatelist, and we now quote from the same
source the Reference List which concludes the article. It will
be seen that the Orange Free State opens a very fair field to
specialists. The reference list notes but 43 stamps to be collected.
There are, however, great possibilities to the earnest searcher of finding Nos. 4a.,
7a., 9a., 14a., and 14b. with the different types of surcharge.

REFERENCE LIST.

Issue February, 1868. Perforated 14.

No. 1. lp. Brown.

2. 6p. Rose.

3. Is. Orange.

Provisional Issue, 1877. "4" on 6p. 5 types.
No. 4. 4p. (on (jp.) Black and rose.

4a. 4p. (on 6p.) ., ,, ., surcharge inverted.

Issue, 1878. Perforated 14.
No. 5. 4p. Blue.

6. 5s. Green (issued 1879).

Provisional Issue, 1881. "\n on 5s. 4 types.
No. 7. §p. on 5s. Black and green.

7a. £p. on 5s. ,, ,, ,, surcharge inverted.

Provisional Issue, 1881. " ip." on 5s. 5 types.
No. 8. lp. on 5s. Black and green.

Provisional Issue, 1882. " 3p" on 4p. 5 types.
No. 9. 3p. on 4p. Black and blue.

9a. 3p. on 4p. „ ,, „ double surcharge.

Issue, 1883. Perforated 14.

No. 10. £p. Red-brown.

11. 2p. Violet.

12. 3p. Blue.

Provisional Issue, 1888. " 2d " on 3p.

No. 13. 2p. (on 3p.) Black and blue.

13a. 2p. (on 3p.) „ „ „ curved foot to " 2 "

Provisional Issue, 1890. " id" on 4p. 2 types.
No. 14. lp. (on 4p.) Black and blue.

14a. lp. (on 4p.) „ „ „ double surcharge.

Nb. lp. (on4p.) „ „ „ treble surcharge.

He. lp. (on 4p.) „ „ „ "I" instead of "1."

Provisional Issue, 1890. "id" on 3p. 2 types.
No. 15. lp. (on 3p.) Black and blue.

15a. lp. (on 3p.) .., „ ,. variety " d " 3mm, apart

from "I."

Provisional Issue, 1892. " 2^d " on 3p.
No. 16. 2^p. (on 3p.) Black and blue.

Issue, 1894. Perforated 14.
No. 17. lp. Violet,

1 32 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

^ubock Qrror of 1859.

FROM THE " ILLUSTREARTES BRIEFMARKEN JOURNAL.

( Continued from p. 1 04. )

SURE proof that the error which we are considering was caused by
retouching two of the electrotypes of the i\ schillings for use in
the plate of the 2 schillings, can be found in the peculiarities of
the design, and above all, in the engraver's secret marks, which we
find on the error ; for these are just the same as those that are
known to belong to the i\ schillings, and the differences between
them and those of the 2 schillings value may easily be pointed out.

Well known as engraver's secret marks, in the five values of the stamps of
Lubeck, are those dots which the artist has added to the ornaments which fill
the space between the two lower figures indicating the value. This ornamenta-
tion is found below the word " Postmarke," and consists of a horizontal stroke,
at each end of which, but not touching it, is a vertical line, followed in its turn
by an arabesque. Above and below the horizontal line, there
(0O»r-i<?Q>) are a certain number of small dots, which vary in number and
position according to the value of the stamp.

In the \ schilling we find one dot above the horizontal stroke ; in the
1 schilling there is one dot under the horizontal line ; the 2 schillings shows us
two dots under this same line, while in the 2^ schillings stamp we find one dot
above and two dots below that line ; the 4 schillings stamp, finally, has four
dots under the central line. Now it happens that the arrangement of dots
peculiar to the 2^ schillings (one dot above and two below) is exactly the
arrangement found upon the error. Besides these engraver's secret marks,
there are other pecularities of design, which furnish important guides when
the genuineness of a Lubeck stamp is to be established.

We wish now to point out the most noteworthy differences between the
stamps of 2 and those of i\ schillings ; of course, what we have to say about
the i\ schillings will also apply to our error.

I. 2 Schillings, red -brown.

1. Right above the word " Lubeck," is an ornament very similar to the
one which we have pointed out under the word " Postmarke" ; it is enlarged,
however, by a half circle, open on top, just under the short central stroke and

between it and the word " Lubeck." On both sides of this half

@£l"\«<£/3\ circle, in the inside of which is a dot, there are two short curved

y ' lines, convex upwards and looking very much like human

eyebrows. The left end of the left curve points directly between

the two dots over the " u" in the word " Lubeck."

2. There is no dot between the two heads of the eagle in the coat of arms.

There is a period after the word " Postmarke," and also one after the
Schilling."

4. The space between the figures in the upper right and
lower right corners, and between the scroll bearing the inscription
" Schilling" and the frame of the stamp, is occupied by a slightly
curved vertical line, and shorter horizontal strokes. The vertical
stroke is drawn quite near to the frame line of the stamp.

(To be continued.)

REVIEWS. 133

"Reviews.

The De la Rue Series of Indian Stamps.

Notes on the De la Rue Series of the Adhesive and Postage and Telegraph Stamps
of India. A Supplement to the Postage Stamps, &c, of British India and
Ceylon. Published by the Philatelic Society, London. 1896. is. 6d.

The Philatelic Society of London has published as a supplement to its
excellent monograph on the stamps of India and Ceylon, a paper read by its
honorary secretary, Mr. J. A. Tilleard, before the society at the beginning of
last year. Mr. Tilleard's supplement is confined to the De la Rue Series, and
it bears evidence on almost every page of exhaustive treatment and special
information. Indeed, it is an open secret that Mr. Tilleard is probably the first
philatelist who has been admitted to the De la Rue factory and has escaped to
tell the tale of what he saw therein. Not only has he escaped to tell the tale,
but, stranger still, he has been specially helped in the telling of his tale by the
great contractors themselves. His paper is full of interest from cover to cover.
It is replete with information extracted, deftly and judiciously, from a valuable
source hitherto jealously guarded from the scrutiny of the philatelist.

To begin, Mr. Tilleard corrects a few slips in the original work, and also
traverses a few of its theories. We have no space to follow him in these details,
and must content ourselves with an extract from his interesting information
concerning the 2 annas green, and his important contribution to the recently
raised question of retouched plates of the De la Rue Series.

The 2 Annas, Green.

In the Society's list, the colour of the 2 annas stamp is given as " brown-pink," and in the
remarks to Issue III. there is a statement that this was the colour of the stamps as originally
transmitted from England, a date nearly two yeai-s later than that given for the issue being assigned
to the well-known variety in green. Now the registered sheet of Plate I. of the 2 annas was
undoubtedly printed in green. The date of registration is the 8th June, 1855, while the stamp in
brown-pink does not appear to have been registered until the 2nd September, 1858, when the
second plate was made.

I have ascertained from head-quarters that " the stamp was first printed in green," that those
first sent out to India were of "this colour," and that there was "no subsequent printing in
green."

It may perhaps be asked, How it is that we do not see more used specimens of the 2 annas,
" green," if it was actually the first sent out ? But I should imagine that it was at once found to
be unsuitable, and was only employed to a very limited extent, if at all. The native-printed
2 anna stamps had only been issued late in 1854, and probably there was a sufficiency of these in
hand to meet the demand, until a fresh supply in a more suitable colour was received from England,
as it is on record that the "country manufactured" stamps were not called in or destroyed
until 1858.

Retouched Plates.

Referring more particularly to the 4 annas of 1866-80, of which there were
seven plates, Mr. Tilleard tells us that he has had the opportunity of inspecting
proofs in black on card from the die as it existed, both before and after
alteration, and, in these proofs, the changes are naturally easier to distinguish
than is the case in the ordinary impressions from the plates. He found a
number of minor differences which might be described, but the principal are,
in the shape of the " fish tail," the rounding of the chin, an increased curve in
the upper lip, and an alteration in the shading just beneath the mouth, caused
by the removal of two of the shading lines.

He goes on to say : —

The chief guide for distinguishing the plates will, however, be found in the fact that the
stamps from the altered die have a somewhat different general appearance, the profile from the
point of the nose downwards, extending to half-way down the neck, being outlined by a well-
defined line of colour, which does not appear in the earlier printed stamps The specimen from
which the illustration of this value in the Society's work was taken, is one of the " retouched " type.

i34 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

There does not seem to be any record of the precise reason for the change in the case of this
stamp, but I understand that it was probably in consequence of some difficulty in working from
the plates made from the die as it originally existed.

I am told that it is no uncommon occurrence to find that plates are not capable of all the work
^hat should be obtained from them. Small defects in the detail, or otherwise, are discovered which
causes " inking up," resulting in difficulty and delay in printing, owing to the constant attention
and frequent cleaning of the plates which is required. When this happens the working die is
softened, and the parts which give rise to the defects in the plates are deepened or modified, as may
be found necessary, new plates being then made. Sometimes, in this operation, the die is damaged,
necessitating the making of a fresh working die from the original " mother " die, which is never
used for the making of the plates. I understand that it is often necessary to resort to some slight
retouch of dies, and it is probable that a close examination of surface-printed stamps which have
had any length of life, and have demanded the employment of many plates, may bring to light
similar instances, in stamps of this and other countries, which have hitherto passed unobserved,
owing to the change in the dies being so minute.

The appendices run into 14 pages, and are most valuable. We have a full
list of the registered plates of the adhesive postage and telegraph stamps
printed by Messrs. De la Rue & Co., giving value, colour, No. of plate, date of
registration, and watermark, and also the descriptive list, prepared in 1871,
by the late Lieut.-Col. Mainwaring, which has been revised by Messrs. De la
Rue, so far as concerns the stamps manufactured by them and completed by
them down to the date of revision. In regard to Col. Mainwaring's list,
Mr. Tilleard remarks that —

The Half-Anna Black.

It is curious to observe that Col. Mainwaring keeps up, or perhaps is the originator of, the
old tradition that the half-anna stamp, with the eight arches, was first printed in black and sent
out for distribution. He adds that it was never issued in this colour to the public, as a large
packet of the stamps was stolen, and the remainder were withdrawn to prevent the stolen stamps
being used. He then proceeds to state that it was re-issued in red, and that on the vermilion ink
running short, it was printed in blue. It would be interesting to know the origin of this
tradition. Personally I have never seen this value in black printed on the watermarked paper,
and if the circumstantial story above referred to were correct, I think we should have seen some
watermarked copies, and not merely proofs. Possibly the story had its origin in the fact that
for a short time the printers despaired of being able to obtain satisfactory results in blue, and
strongly recommended the black impressions which bad been successfully obtained.

The Current Series.

Even in the case of the current series of Indian stamps, Mr. Tilleard has
some corrections to make and some information to add. He writes : —

The years 1881 and 1882 saw the introduction of an entirely new series of stamps for India.
These are all included in the Society's list under issue XV., the dates there assigned being
January, 1882, to April, 1888. It was assumed that the designs of all the values given were
"probably approved in 1882 " ; but as a matter of fact the 4 annas and 6 pies, and the 12 annas
values were not prepared until some years later. The designs for all the rest were approved in
December, 1880. In September, 1881, the 1 anna 6 pies, and the 3 annas stamps were first printed,
the 1 anna in March, 1882, the 8 annas and the 1 rupee in July, and the half-anna, the 9 pies, and
the 2 annas were sent out in August of the same year. The 4 annas stamps were not delivered
until October, 1885.

The New 6 Annas still to come.

And it seems that there is yet another of the new designs to come, for
Mr. Tilleard tells us that—

Of the 6 annas value none have yet been printed for use, although the plate was registered on
the 3rd January, 1882. I am indebted to Mr. G. J. Hynes for the information that so large was
tbe stock on hand of 6 anna stamps of the previous design, that up to the present time it has sufficed
for the demand ; but that the next "indent" for stamps of this value from England will be for
those of the new design, which has been so long waiting to make its appearance.

Although Mr. Tilleard's paper was read before the Society on the 15th Feb-
ruary, 1895, this 6 annas of the new series is still to come.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

135

J^ovelties and discoveries.

The earliest information as to New Issues will be much appreciated by us, and will be duly credited
to the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our foreign correspondents can materially help us in this
direction. When possible, a specimen should accompany the information, and be addressed to the Editor,
Mr. Edwakd J. Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon.

Barbados. - Mr. Gurdji sends the
American Journal of Philately the fol-
lowing extract from the Official Gazette
of Barbados : —

Post Office Xotice.— On and after this
date all printed newspapers posted at the General
Post Office for delivery in this Island, will be
liable to a postage rate of one farthing for a
weight not exceeding 2 ounces, and an addi-
tional farthing for every additional "2 ounces.

No word or communication must be written
or printed on the newspaper or on the cover
thereof after publication, except the name and
address of the person for whom intended.

No paper or thing shall be enclosed in such
paper except the printed supplement, if any,
belonging to it.

Pending the issue of adhesive one farthing
stamps, the postage will be received at the
General Post Office in Coin and the words
" Paid at Barbados " will be impressed on the
Newspaper by a hand stamp in the presence of
the person posting same, who will be required
to sign a paper stating the number of news-
papers poste 1 and the amount paid thereon.

In the case of Newspapers weighing over 2
ounces the postage will be required to be paid
with adhesive postage stamps.

It will not be practicable at present to post
newspapers at any of the Country Post Offices
for delivery in this Island without a minimum
postage of £d. being paid.

W. P. Trimixgham,

Colonial Postmaster.

General Post Office, 23rd January, 1896.

Canada. — Our publishers have the
envelope of the 3 cents red value with
stamp roughly lithographed instead of
being embossed. Mr. J. B. Lewis, of
Ottawa, says only 110 were printed.

Envelope.
3 cents, red, lithographed.

Cuba.— Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
send us the current baby head series in
pale green as follows : —
Adhesives.

h mil. green.

1 mil. ,,

2 mil. M

3 mil- ii

4 niil. ,,

Cyprus. -Messrs. Whitfield King and
Co. send us the new 4 piastres, olive and
purple, of the series chronicled by us in
February (p. 47). They inform us that

the new ^ and 2 piastres will not appear
for some time yet, but all the other values
of the new series referred to are no win use.

French Morocco. -Messrs. Whit-
field King & Co. send us a series of
unpaid stamps with values surcharged
horizontally in figures and words on the
current unpaid series of France.

Adhesive (Unpaid Stamps).

5c. blue, stir, in red.
ioc. chocolate, sur. in red.
30c. rose, sur. in black.
50c. lilac, sur. in black.

1 peseta, pale brown, sur. in black.

Great Britain —The Post Office
Circular of March 24th contains the fol-
lowing official announcement concerning
the new surcharge of "O.W. Official,"
which was first chronicled in our pages : —

The Postmaster General has approved of the
use of stamps overprinted •' O.W. Official," for
denoting the payment of both postage and
registration lees, on letters and other mail
matter transmitted by certain officials of the
Office of Works.

We are further informed that there will
shortly be another official surcharge, viz. :
" W.O. OFFICIAL," for the use of the
War Office, and probably on £d. and Id.
values.

Holland. — We are indebted to Mr. J.
R. Robert for a specimen of the new
envelopes issued on the 13th April. They
are printed on duplex wove paper, white
outside and blue inside, and measure
146 x 112 mm. A stamp of the current
type is printed on the left upper corner.
Envelopes.
5c. blue, on white wove, inside blue.
i2ic. grey, ,, ,,

India. — According to the Quarterly

Philatelic Circular (Bombay), there are at
least twelve sub-varieties of the nine pies
embossed envelopes for soldiers and sea-
men, surcharged "one anna" with Crown,
as per following list : —

1. Small "n" in "one"

2. '' A " in "• anna " without cross-bar.

3. " A " in " anna " with thin bar.

4. " A " in "anna" with dotted bar.

5. " A " in " anna " with half bar.

6. "A " in " anna " with double bar.

7. " E " in " one " with solid head.

8. " E " in " one " with three arms.

9. " O " in " one " without inner bar.
10. " O " in " one " with dotted cross-bar.
it. " O " in " one " with single cross-bar.

12. "O" in "one" with cross-bars joined to right.

136

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Johore. — The Philatelic Journal of
Great Britain has received the current
set surcharged in small block capitals,
" KEMAHKOTAAN," issued, so it is
said, at the coronation of the new Sultan ,

Adhesives.
ic. black and lilac and mauve.
2C. ,, ,, yellow.

3c ,, ,, carmine.

4c. ,, ,, black.

5C „ ,, green.

6c. ,, „ olive.

itt ,, and green and carmine.

New South Wales. — A correspon-
dent tells the Monthly Journal that he has
found the 4d. Unpaid Letter stamp, perf .
10 X 11.

The following is from The Government
Gazette : —

Postal and Electric Telegraph Department,
General Post Office,

Sydney, 27th February, 1896.
His Excellency the Governor, with the
advice of the Executive Council, has, under the
provisions of the 7th section of the Postage Acts
Amendment Act 56 Vic. No. 31, approved of
certain alterations being made in the design of
the l^d. post card,which consist in the removal
of the waratah from the left-hand side of the
card, and the substitution of an emblematic
waratah and leaves for the words" One Hundred
Years " in the stamp denoting the value.

Joseph Cook.

Adhesive (Unpaid Letter Stamp).

4d. green, perf. 10 x 11.

Post Card.

iM. blue on straw ; without waratah at left.

New Zealand. — The Australian
Philatelist says the current 2d. is now
perforated 10 X Hi and the 8d. is per-
forated 10.

Adhesives.
2d. lilac, perf. 10 x ni.
8d. blue, perf. 10.

Poland. — According to the Monthly
Journal there is in the collection of
Mr. Breitfuss an unused specimen of the
10c. adhesive, on vertically laid paper.
" Possibly," remarks Major Evans, "the
same paper as that which was used in
1866, according to the catalogues, for the
Russian stamps."

Adhesive.
ioc, blue and rose on laid.

Porto Rico.— Messrs. Whitfield King
and Co. send us the current type of the
baby head, in the following new colours :

Adhesives.
^ mil., pale purple.

1 mil., pale brown.

2 mil., pale green.
4 mil., blue green.

Queensland. — The Australian Phil-
atelist is informed that the Id. on " secret
mark" paper, mentioned in our last,
would not remain long in use, as a three
months' supply of Crown Q. paper was

expected in a few days (9th March). In
July next a twelve months' supply of
paper, the first of a new contract from
Webster, is expected. It is said that this
paper is thin, but whether watermarked
or otherwise is not stated. More changes
are looming in the near future. All the
current stamps (presumably with the
exception of the id., 2^d., and od.) are
to be altered slightly in design, figures of
value being inserted in the lower angles.

Russia.— The Monthly Journal says: —
Among the treasures in the Breitfuss collec-
tion, Mr. Phillips notes the following : —
1 868. With horizontal laid lines —

1 kop. and 10 kop., imperf.
1879. The 7 kopecs printed on paper used
for fiscal stamps, with a watermark of a hexagon
pattern ; the specimen was used in 1880, and is
believed to be unique.

1884. The 14 kopecs divided diagonally,
the upper left-hand half, and surcharged with
a figure " 7." The variety is known to be
authentic, and to have been made by a local
postmaster, to meet a temporary emergency.

]8U0. The 14 kop. with inverted centre,
used at St. Petersburg, Feb. 13, 1893.
Adhesives.
1868. Horizontal laid lines.

ik., 10k., imperf.
1879. On Fiscal paper.

7k. wmk. hexagon pattern.
1884. The 14k. divided diagonally and surcharged' 7.'
1890. 14k. centre inverted, used St. Petersburg,
Feb. 13, 1893.

Samoa.— Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
send us two new post cards labelled
" Samoa — Post Card — the address only to
be written on this side," with one penny
stamp of current adhesives design.

Post Cards.
id. blue on pale green,
id. + id. blue on pale green.

Shanghai. — MekeeVs Weekly Stamp
News chronicles two high values of the
current set (15c. and 20c.) reduced, by
means of a simple surcharge in English
and Chinese giving the new value in the
two languages, to values in greater de-
mand which had become temporarily
exhausted. There do not seem to be any
type varieties.

Adhesives.

4 cents on 15 cents, yellow and black, black.
6 cents on 20 cents, violet and black, black.

Si am.— Capt. Morier, writing from
Singapore, having recently returned
thither from Siam, sends us two new bur-
charges, namely, 2 atts on 64 atts, and
10 atts on 24 atts; and we hear also of
4 atts on 12 atts. They are all surcharged
in black, in English, across the upper part
of the stamp, and in Siamese over the
labels of value.

Adhesives.
2 atts on 64 atts, lilac and orange, sur. black.
4 atts on 12 atts, lilac and carmine ,,
10 atts on 24 atts, lilac and blue ,,

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

137

Tolima. — The American Journal of
Philately publishes the following : —

HONDA (Departamento del Tolima),
Reeublica de Colombia, South America.
20th March, 1896.

Sir: — I beg to inform you that a few days
ago the Post Office authorities here issued o()0
of the two centavos stamps surcharged as
follows : —

HABILITADA

YALE $0.01

HONDA

The stock in hand of the one centavo stamps
having been sold and a number of circulars
having been sent to the post office for trans-
mission the post office officials were obliged to
surcharge the two centavos as above stated
pending the arrival of the one centavo stamps
from Bogota, the capital of the Republic.

In order to get possession of a few of these
stamps I sent circulars, etc., to some of my
friends, at the same time requesting them to
return me the stamps, and to prove that they
have really passed through the post office I
have stamped this circular with two of them.
I shall be obliged by your returning me one of
them, retaining the other for your good-selves.

I am prepared to sell the few stamps which I
have in my possession at the rate of §1.00
(gold) each.

Yours truly,

John Gillies.

Transvaal.— We have another — the
Is. — of the new series of current type,
with label of value in green, from Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co., and our publishers
have shown us the Id. black perf. 12A, of
1885 of the old arms type, horizontally
iniperf. between.

. Idhesives.

is. bistre, value in green.

/SSj Issue.

id. black, imperf. horizontally.

United States.— The Post Office
(U.S.) says one of the latest discoveries is
a 10c Baltimore on white paper, of same
type as the oc. This was discovered in
Louisville, Ky., and was sold to a stamp
firm for §2,050, and they immediately
turned it over to a New York collector
for $4,400. Two new Confederate stamps
have also been discovered, a 10c Beaumont
black on yellow, and a 2c green Baton
Rouge with error "McCcrmick." The
publisher of the Post Office has found the
1 Wo 2c black on horizontally laid paper,
the watermark lines are very close
together.

Baltimore Provisional Adhesive Sta»if>.

ioc black on white.

Beaumont, Texas, Provisional Adhesive Stamf>.

ioc black on yellow.

Baton Rouge, La., Provisional Adhesive Stamp.

2c green (error McCcrmick).

A dhesive.

1863, 2c black, laid paper.

Zanzibar. —The following varieties
exist in the Provisional Zanzibar stamps
surcharged on the current India adhe-
sives : —

B of Zanzihar with top stroke only at left

side " b " — all values.
B of Zanzibar with top stroke to right and

and left " b " — all values.
Second Z of Zanzibar small — all values.
Second Z of Zanzibar small and above the

line — all values.
Second Z of Zanzibar small and below the

line— all values.
Second Z of Zanzibar normal — all values.
Second Z of Zanzibar large and narrow — all

values.
Top of B missing ;' x> " — all values.
"Zanzidar" — all values.
Inverted " r " — 2, 3 and 5 rupees.
Capital Z below the line— 2, :5 and 5 rupees.

Our publishers have shown us the
Indian, one anna, reply postcard, doubly
surcharged, in blue, " Zanzibar " on the
first half, but unsurcharged on the reply
half.

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No 1, price one shilling (postage extra).

The May packet contains five varieties,
used and unused, viz. : Queensland Id. and
2d., new type : Transvaal ^d. green, &c.

No 2, price five shillings (postage
extra).

The May packet contains ten varieties,
used and unused.

Those packets are on sale from May 25th
to June 24th (unless the supply is previously
exhausted), and arc supplied only to Subscribers
to the " Philatelic Recoiid and Stamp News."'
Similar packets will be on sale every month,
and may be subscribed for in advance for the
year (January to December inclusive), at the
following rates : — No. 1 packet (sent by book
post with the paper), 12s., post-free (if by letter
post the postage is Is. extra Inland ; 2s 6d.
Abroad). No. 2 packet (by letter post), Inland
01s., Abroad G2s. Gd., post-free.

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum)
is extra. — Buhl & Co. Limited, 11, Queen
Victoria Street, E.G.

138

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

philately in the JftTags.

Alaska Postal Arrangements.

Last January Filateh'c Facts and Fancies
(U.S.) gave an account of a private
mail, projected in Alaska, with the gold
fields of the Yukon as the objective
point. At that time two round trips of
the carrier were scheduled to be made
this winter. Since then information is
at hand that one round trip has been
completed, carrier Jackson bringing out
about twelve hundred letters from Forty
Mile Creek and vicinity. To further
illustrate the stern surroundings of this
hazardous winter enterprise of the frozen
north, the Filateh'c Facts and Fancies give
the following account of the hardships
and dangers encountered by the carrier
on the first half of his trip : —

Jackson left Juneau in December last with
the mail, accompanied by two white men,
provisioned for about forty days, and loaded
with about six hundred pounds of newspapers
and magazines, in addition to the letter mail.
Immediately after their departure heavy storms
set in, and they were obliged to lie in camp
several weeks, which reduced their provisions
considerably. YvThen Jackson and two Indian
companions reached Lake LeBarge they were
in despeiate circumstances, but had the mail
intact. They were met at this point by a
party coming out. Jackson reported his face
badly frozen, and said when tbeir supply of
provisions ran short they divided up and each
man had to shift for himself. The two white
men had been left behind nine days before,
with half a sack of flour and some beans, both
in a state of utter exhaustion from hardships
and intense cold. Jackson and his mates killed
and ate all their dogs, but pushed on, finally
reaching Forty Mile Creek with one hind-
quarter of a hound and a pint of flour remain-
ing in their commissary department. It is
thought the white men's chances are almost
nil of surviving

The news from Circle City, while not
exciting, is interesting. Beer is 50 cents, per
schooner, a hair cut costs §1.00, sugar 25 cents,
per pound, coal oil §25.00 per gallon, and
about '49 prices for staple provisions of all
kinds prevail, while the expressage on a single-
rate letter over the perilous winter route of
contractor Jackson is 50 cents.

The German Feldpost of 1870.

Mr. Karl Ludwig contributes to Fila-
telic Facts and Fancies (U.S.) a very
interesting account of the German Feld-
post of twenty-five years ago, from which
we cull the following : —

There was no other government institution
during the Franco- German war nearly so

popular as the Feldpost, and indeed it did a
great deal towards helping to bring about the
final results, with success to the German armies.
Assuring letters from home made the German
soldiers confident, and helped them to bear the
terrible hardships of the campaign ; while on
the other hand the genial originator of the
Feldpost, Dr. Von Stephan (the creator of the
World's Postal Union, and at the present time
still Postmaster-General of the German Empire)
is authority for the following statement: —
" Eight after the battle I was riding on the
street from Etain to Sedan, where I asked some
captured French soldiers about their feldpost.
The answer I got was that since their departure
they had not got a single letter from their dear
ones, and that this fact had done a good deal
toward their downheartedness."

On July 10, 1870, the mobilization of the
army was ordered, and nine days later Dr. Yon
Stephan had finished all necessary postal ar-
rangements for the war. At once 4000 employes
(later on even 5900) were taken from the home
force for this new department, and of these
2140 had to serve in the field. During the war
about ninety millions of ordinary letters and
postal cards, two and a half million papers, two
million packets, one hundred and thirty million
marks public and forty-nine million marks
private money passed through this branch.
The use of this service was absolutely free for
the soldiers, while their relatives at home had
to pay only a nominal amount for money orders
and packets, while letters and postal cards did
not cost any postage either. Yes, even the four
hundred thousand captive Frenchmen were
allowed to send letters and cards to their native
country without charge.

On August 24th a German postal administra-
tion was organized for French territory occupied
by German armies, with headquarters in Nancy.
This one was followed later on by forty post-
offices on French soil. Three days after the
capture of Strassbourg, and only one day after
the fall of Metz, both fortresses had first-class
post-offices. One month later, November 30th,
the province of Alsace Lorraine had 121 German
post-offices, At Mars la Tour and at Sedan,
and later on many other battle fields, mail clerks
collected postal cards by the sackful on the very
battle fields. "What a joy must such a card
often have caused, arriving as it did a few days
after the short telegraphic notices about terrible
battles, and telling that the sender was alive
and sound.

Commemorative Issues.

What a blessing it will be when the
Postal Union Congress bars all com-
memorative issues from use in the Postal
Union. Then there will be philatelic
peace. Till then we shall have to reckon
with themi n patience. Major Evans has

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

139

a word or two about these philatelic pests
in the Monthly Journal. He says : —

About commemorative issues there appears to
be a certain amount of misunderstanding. We
have never intended to suggest condemning a
permanent issue, whatever may be the occasion
upon which it is made ; our idea of a Com-
memorative issue has always been that it should
be limited in the duration of its sale or use, or
in the numbers printed, and not that the term
should be applied to a regular issue, even if it
were brought out upon some special occasion.
Our own issue of 1887 was a perfectly
legitimate one; a new set of stamps was
urgently required, the previous issue, with
several values in the same colour, was most
inconvenient, and quite unsuited to its purpose ;
the Queen's Jubilee was a very fitting occasion
for making such a change, and the stamps have
continued in use ever since. The Guildhall
card and the South Kensington envelope belong-
to another class ; we can find no better excuse
for them than for the Centennial envelopes and
Columbian series of the United States — unless
we may claim that the Jubilee of the Postage
Stamp was a more suitable occasion for such
sort of Commemoration than any other that
could be imagined.

The ' Censt' Error of Johor.

In the course of an interview with the
stamp firm of Messrs. Gk Hamilton, Smith
and Co., published in the Stamp Collectors'
Fortnightly, Mr. Gwyer, a member of the
firm, showing some of his best stock,
said : —

Many of the best things here I picked up
quietly and cheaply while resident in Penang,
Malacca, and Singapore. See, here is the
"Censt" error of Johor, of which only 1(>8
copies were issued. Strangely enough, all the
108 were saved, for the Postmaster happened to
notice the error before any of the stamps reached
the public. Having a son who collected stamps
he collected the whole 108 errors and gave them
away to various friends. That specimen (Mr
Gwyer added) he gave to me. You see, I have
marked it £10, but if it were only a stamp
belonging to a more fashionable country —
Leeward Islands, say— it would fetch £50 at
least.

A "Find" of Rare British Guianas.

Mr. J. W. Dorman, of Demerara, sends
the Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly news of
a recent find of rare British Guianas.
He says : —

It may interest your readers to hear that a
fine pair of the 2c. pink British Guiana, 1850,
was recently found. The colour is good, the
postmark light, and the initials clear and dis-
tinct. They were bought by the Hon. E. C.
Luard, who subsequently let me have a share
in them.

Last mail a sheet of the 2c. black and purple,
1880, with the red 2 inverted were taken home.
These, I learn, never went through the post,
and were apparently printed fur amusement.

" Colonial English,"

Now that " Colonial English " have
been relegated in a fair stand-up fight,
in its own castle, to the status of postmark
collecting, Mr. Ewen seeks in his English
Specialists' Journal to establish the claim
of the surcharged Levant stamps to be
regarded as British stamps. Of course,
they are British, just as an Australian is
a British subject. But surely the status
of a stamp is determined by its availability
in an unused condition. If the English
stamp surcharged in Turkish currency is
still available for postal use in this
country, then it is still an English stamp,
but if it is not acceptable here by reason
of its currency surcharge, then it cannot
be regarded as an English stamp. "We
do not admit the argument that the
destination of the revenue derived from
the sale of the stamps is a determining
factor. To our thinking it is entirely a
question of the availability of the stamp
in its unused condition.

However, we quote what Mr. Ewen has
to say for his view : —

British stamps, in our opinion, are those
which denote payment of revenue to the British
Government, and which are issued by post
offices under its control. It will be seen that
those of our colonies which govern themselves
issue their own stamps, Xew South Wales and
New Zealand lor instance. In certain cases,
where special stamps were required, but could
not be printed immediately, a temporary issue
has been made of English stamps overprinted
with the name of the Colony. As these stamps
denote revenue paid to the Colonial and not to
the British Government, they are Colonial
stamps. The Levant stamps surcharged in
Turkish currency are, in our opinion, as much
British as the unsurcharged British stamps
with which they are sold side by side. They
all denote revenue paid to the British Govern-
ment. In what other manner can we explain
the issue in Cyprus of first, British stamps ;
secondly, British stamps overprinted " Cyprus";
and thirdly, special Cyprus stamps ? How is
it there were two issues in Malta, one for in-
land and for foreign correspondence P The
only explanation can be that revenue derived
from the former went into the Maltese Ex-
chequer, whilst that derived from the latter
went to the British Government. If not, the
duty of the gd. Maltese stamp might well have
been done by the ^d. English stamp, or vice
versa.

But the whole question will be settled
once and for ever, shortly ; at least Mr.
Bishop announces in the S.O.F. that he is
going to have a lucid interval on the
business He says : —

Before long we hope to argue this question
out most exhaustively, and with, we trust, a
lucidity which has hitherto been chiefly con-
spicuous for its absence in the controversy that
has raged around the ''Foreign" English stamps.

140

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Annual Issues.

There is much to be said for and against
Annual Issues. Major Evans, in the
Monthly Journal, says : —

Annual changes, whether under such a con-
tract as those of Mr, Seebeck or not, are legiti-
mate enough, in a way ; but if they become a
nuisance, and a danger to our pursuit, we have
a right to say that we will not collect them
ourselves, and to do our best to deter others
from encouraging them.

To all of which we gladly say " ditto."
But annual changes would have the ad-
vantage that they probably would be free
from the ' '• remainder sets ' ' arrangement ;
and they certainly would give a decided
fillip to stamp collecting amongst junior
collectors by reason of their provision of
a desirable stream of novelties.

Great Britain 3d. Secret Mark.

With reference to the 3d. with trial
perforation which is included in Mr.
Ewen's Catalogue as No. 85c, 3d. rose,
plate 3, with white clot, trial perforation 14,
and which has been considered by some
to be only a forged perforation, Mr. Ewen
gives in the English Specialists'' Journal
the following letter from Mr. Peckitt as
to their genuine character : —

In answer to yours of the 18th inst.. I am
pleased to be able to give you all the information
in my power regarding these 3d. secret dot.
The copies I had and sold last year were dis-
covered on turning out the desk of an official of
importance in Somerset House. As at the time
of finding them he had left the service some
twenty years, it is I think quite right to pre-
sume that they were perforated even longer
back than that period. The perforation is what
is known as the " penny perforation " from its
having been used mainly for the Id. stamps.
There is not the slightest doubt that it is
genuine, but whether they are perforated by
the gentleman mentioned merely as an experi-
ment I cannot say. Of course, it is needless to
tell you that if they were perforated with the
regular perforation, and had been sold over the
counter of a P.O. they would have been worth
nearer £40 than the figure I sold them to Mr.
N. at.

And then Mr. Ewen goes on to explain
that : —

All stamps of the surface printed series
were printed by Messrs. De la Eue & Co., but
perforated at Somerset House, the stamps being-
delivered there imperforate. The line engraved
stamps were both printed and perforated by
Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co. Somerset House
perforation differs from the " penny perfora-
tion" of Messrs, Perkins, Bacon & Co., the
holes being 4mm. in diameter in place of 3mm.,
and being much more cleanly cut out. All
stamps belonging to what is now generally
known as the De la Rue series (1880 to pre-
sent day) are both printed and perforated by

Messrs. De la Rue & Co., being delivered to
Somerset House ready for issue.

Varieties of Gum.

Original gum is a precious product in
the eyes of the ardent stamp collector,
especially to the specialist, who is
willing to pay for the genuine article
something like £20,000 per pint. At
present we do make a distinction between
varieties of gum, and so long as it is not
carried too far those varieties are most
interesting. They are collected mainly in
cases where they help in distinguishing
some special printing or issue ; as, for
instance, in some of the stamps of the
Transvaal the yellow, streaky gum is a
factor of some value and interest, for it
marks a particular printing by reason of
the complaint lodged against the gum at
the time in that particular case, but we
scarcely think the collection of varieties
of gum for gum alone will go down.
The English Specialists' Journal asks : —

How long will it be before we specialise in
varieties of gum ? A great diversity of colour
and quality may be found. For instance, the
octagonal series may be found with blue, brown,
or white gum ; 2d. blue, plate 15, exists with
both blue and yellow gum. Even De la Rue
gum varies in shade from yellow-brown to
white. Some of the old penny red stamps may
be found with " double gum ! " Even at
present some of us collect as varieties stamps
which are gummed on the face instead of
the back.

Stamps of Impoverished States.

The Philatelic Journal of Great Britain,
commenting on our article on the
"Stamps of Impoverished States" in
last month's number of the Philatelic
Record, says : —

Mr. JNankivell on the Stamps of Impoverished
States is likely to give rise to much discussion,
possibly in government departments abroad as
well as in philatelic circles far and near. Were
the article to he published in the general press
its tone would we think cause not a little
astonishment to the average reader. Among
stamp-men, however, Mr. Nankivell's pro-
posal will itself be the subject of controversy.
Startling as it appears, however, there is a great
deal of commonsense in his argument. Never-
theless, it seems to us that if once the principle
of supply and demand in our hobby is recognised
in this bare-faced way, all the romance and
more than half the fascination will quickly die
out of it.

True. But in the discussion that we
have raised we are only considering the
" Impoverished States," and we cannot
prevent their viewing matters from the
sordid supply and demand point of view.
That being so, our contention is that we
should make the best bargain we can.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

141

Queensland "Secret Mark" Paper.

The " secret mark" on recent Queens-
land stamps is already voted not only a
puzzle, but a nuisance. The puzzle, the
Rev. W. Earee explains as follows in the
Bazaar Philatelists' Supplement : —

Either by intention or accident a sheet of
plain paper was passed through the hot-press
(a pair of heated, bright steel rollers) at the
same time as a sheet of the crowned Q paper.
Now, we all know that an ordinary watermai'k
is thinner than the rest of the paper, and the
result of the two sheets being squeezed together
in the hot-press was very curious. The water-
marks appeared reversed on the plain paper —
reversed in a way very different from what is
ordinarily meant by that term — that is to say.
the watermarks were thicker than the rest of the
sheet, instead of thinner. The same effect
would be produced by a dandy-roll — only rather
more so ! — if the watermarks were engraved in
it en creux, i.e., hollow, instead of in relief.
This is the whole history of the " secret mark.''
But there may be such a thing as too much
secrecy ; and I think that this is decidedly the
case with the mark in question, for when a
stamp watermarked by this process has been
printed, gummed, perforated, licked, stuck on a
letter, postmarked, and finally taken off, there
is very little watermark left. Indeed, after all
the above manipulations, the secret mark
generally refuses to show itself by any of the
ordinary tests of transmitted light, reflected
light, black-slab-and-benzine, &c, and one is
tempted to suggest the employment of "X-ray "
photography as a last and final test.

The Tasmanian Platypus Type.

The Eev. P. E. Eaynor contributes to
the last issue of the Bazaar Pit il (delists'
Supplement a very interesting history of
the Platypus type of the Tasmanian
stamps. He explains that

The Tasmanian Tost Office, having a ltrge
supply of stamps of this type which were no
longer required for their special fiscal purpose,
decided in 1887 to issue them as postage-
stamps, and to print no further supply of the
ordinary postage-stamps until they were
exhausted. The Id. being most used, and
existing in smaller quantities, was the first
to be exhausted. When I arrived in Tas-
mania at the end of 1887 this Id. Platypus
had just gone out, and the ordinary type of Id.
had been reverted to. But during the three
years that I was in the colony (1888—1890),
the only stamps of the value of 3d., Gd., and
Is. to be obtained at the post-offices for pre-
paying postage were those of the Platypus
type. This sufficiently establishes their claim

to be regarded as postage-stamps. When the
6d. Platypus was exhausted there was no other
stamp of that value available, so the old
"Queen's bust" type was re-issued, and
continued in use until the bi- coloured series
came in. Similarly the Platypus 3d. was
succeeded by a reversion to the 3d. of the
ordinary type. When the bi-coloured type
was chosen, it was deliberately adopted only
for those values which did not exist in the
Queen's head series. Thus, as there was no
Queen's head type of 2Jd.. .3d., 6d., Is., 2s. 6d..
and 10s., bi-coloured stamps were adopted for
these values; but the values of Id., 2d., 3d.,
4d., 8d., 9d., 10d.. and os. already existing
with the Queen's head were retained, and are
still in issue.

Mr. Castle on Himself.
SlR,— In your April issue there is an
omission of a monosyllable of so much
consequence that I ventui^e to ask for
its reinstatement. At the friendly impor-
tunity of my brother editor of the Phila-
telic World, I sent him a somewhat dis-
cursive series of notes, one of which was a
brief account of my career as a collector. I
hardly expected that this would have been
deemed worth publishing, still less that it
should have been reproduced so near
home as in your columns. In the closing
sentence of my remarks, referring es-
pecially to my collection in the past, I am
made to say in the Philatelic Record^ " I
have spent— well, k quite a lot,' aad have
a vague idea that the money and labour
are all thrown away." It is here that the
word " not " is omitted, the sentence in
the Philatelic World reading "are not all
thrown away."

I would not have troubled you with this
correction but for the fact that it might
create a bad impression upon collectors
who have not been so long in the phila-
telic arena as myself. I need assuredly
scarce emphasize my well-known belief in
the reward offered byp'iilately as regards
either time or money. As to the former,
it is a charming pursuit ; and as to the
latter, a safe investment in the opinion of

Yours faithfully,

M. P. Castle.

[We very much regret that such an
error should have escaped our proof
reader. Our extract was set up direct
from the pages of the Ph ilatelic World as
a safeguard against error. — Ed. P.P.']

142

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

philatelic Qossip.

Proposed 1897 Exhibition.

The proposal to hold another large
General Exhibition in London gets the
following lift from the influential pen
of Mr. Castle in the London Philatelist: —

The last exhibition in London was held in
May, 1890, in commemoration of the fiftieth
anniversary of the introduction of Penny
Postage, and the intervening space of seven
years represents a long hiatus in the recent
abnormal development of Philately. There is
abundant evidence that such an enterprise
would elicit the widest support and receive the
most cordial welcome from all classes connected
with the pursuit of Postage Stamp collecting ;
hence we feel confident that, started under
proper auspices, the undertaking would be not
unly a great success, but would give a marked
impetus to Philately.

The experience gained by those connected
with past exhibitions has shewn that such an
undertaking is indeed cne of " pith and moment "
and that the difficulties to be met and overcome
are many and onerous. The avoidance of some
of the obstacles that militated against the
complete success of the last exhibition would
probably be secured by the early appointment
of an influential committee, who would thus
have twelve months to herald the exhibition,
and to work out the scheme in all its details.

The advantage of such an exhibition would
be shared by all classes connected with stamps
alike, and it seems to us, therefore, fitting that
the committee should be a widely representative
one. This would involve the presence thereon
of members of the London and Country Phila-
telic Societies, and of the leading dealers, and
possibly, later on, necessitate the selection of a
paid Secretary to carry out the behests of the
Committee. This suggestion is not to be taken
as emanating from the Philatelic Society of
London, although we imagine that its support
would be lent to any soundly devised scheme,
but it results from a widely expressed conviction
that the time is ripe for another exhibition,
and that it would be of signal service in the
best interests of Philately in this country.

Philately on the Continent.

Mr. Charles J. Phillips (Stanley Gib-
bons, Ltd.) contributes to the Monthly
Journal a chatty, most enjoyable account
of a recent business tour through France,
Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Eussia.
He tells us that he found Paris rapidly
resuming its place as the centre of phi-
lately on the continent. Brussels, on the
contrary, is ' ' as rapidly going down as
Paris is going up the scale." He says : —

The dealers of Brussels have very little good
stuff on hand ; one of them who is wrell known
through selling forgeries, false postmarks,

cleaned fiscals, and mended stamps, thoroughly
deserves to have his name published, and I
would commend his doings to the notice of the
Brussels Philatelic Society— by the way, this
society is well known as containing a larger
number of people of title than any other, but I
am afraid tne adage, " the greater the title, the
smaller the purse," is but too often the case
here.

At Frankfurt - on - the - Maine he saw
several nice collections, and noted the
great tendency is to secure fine unused
stamps.

European, North Americans, and West Indies,
especially the latter, being in greatest demand.
Mr. Rosenberg's collection of Heligoland stamps
is worthy of special notice ; it is beyond doubt
the finest in existence, as Mr. Rosenberg has
specialised in this country for a long time, and
is nearly complete in every variety of type,
shade, postmark, &c., in addition to entire sheets
and stamps on letters.

In Munich he inspected several fine
collections ; and good stamps seemed to
be in fair demand. And then the shrewd
man

Spent a day going the round of the dealers,
and I was specially on the look-out for Bavarian
stamps— the Arms type, with silk thread, imperf.
and unused— and all to be had in Munich was a
pair of 9 kr., brown, and one or two single 1 and
3 kr. stamps ; fully bearing out my experience
of the past two years, which has been that these
stamps, in a fine unused condition, have been —
and still are — much underrated. I have not seen
a dozen for sale during the whole of my trip, and
I am sure the prices must advance considerably,
as they are in constant demand in Germany.

In Vienna of course he was met with
the all-pervading question, "What do
you think of the affair of the Austrian
Mercuries ? " He now says : —

From a careful examination of the results of
the Vienna and Berlin researches, I am abso-
lutely convinced that the yellow, rose, and ver-
milion Austrian Mercury stamps that have been
coming from Vienna during the past five years
are absolute forgerit s. If this is so, the next
thing is to find the culprit, and on this point
there is much diversity of opinion. A legal
action is now in course of progress in Austria,
which may throw some light on the subject. If
it does not, we shall all hope that the Austrian
Philatelic Society may in some way get at the
bottom of the mystery; its members have already
done much to earn our gratitude, and we shall
all wish them success in fathering this immense
swindle on its originator.

At Leipzig he spent an afternoon in-
specting the " truly grand " collection of
Baron J. von Mutzenbecher.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

This collection is. beyond doubt, far and away
the best and most valuable in Germany A
special feature is stamps on entire envelopes,
among which I noticed a square block of four
2d. blue " Large Fillet " Mauritius in beautiful
condition, several round British G-uiana, also, in
the same country, that wry rare stamp, the 4c,
blue, 1856 issue, large oblong on the surfaced
paper. About nineteen of the blue Naples (arms
and cross) in fine shades is not such a bad show,
and a set of the four first issue Moldavia is
another trifle not often met with.

Next month we shall hear what he has
to say about philately in the Empire of
the Czar.

The Czar as a Philatelist.

Talking of the Czar, we are reminded
that we were recently informed on the
very best authority that the Czar has
insured his collection of postage stamps
in a well-known English Insurance Office
for a considerable sum. The Czar may
therefore be added definitely to the
number of royal stamp collectors.

Booming New Issues.

*' Specialising in stamps of the past five
years seems to have less to recommend
it" to our sprightly San Francisco con-
temporary, Filatelic Farts and Fancies,
" than many other questionable forms of
philately." It urges that '"before the
stamps of the last five years have been
collected, another five years may roll
round." That's so : they may. But
•then the idea of the so-called new move-
ment, as we understand it, is to limit only
the period of looking backward, but, so
far as new issues are concerned, to go on
for ever.

Our contemporary is, however, very
keen in its criticism of the limitation of
collecting to a start with 1890, when it
contends that :—

Philately is thus robbed of one of its chief
charms — its identification with the history and
changes of governments and nations. What
can be more interesting than the political
changes of the German or Italian States, or the
history that is now being rapidly made in Central
. and South Africa ?

"The Londoner Philatelist."

A trade journal under the title of
The Londoner Pit ilatelist has been issued by
a stamp dealer in the West End of
London. Naturally the London Vh ilate-
list is indignant at this obvious use of its
title, and the Editor takes off his jacket
to say that " the title has been selected
without our knowledge or consent, and
that the matter will not be allowed to rest
here." Two to one, bar one, on M.P.C.
No gloves.

Postmasters as Stamp Dealers.

Messrs. Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., have
received the following interesting com-
munication from the Assistant Post-
master of Johannesburg. Comment is
needless !

" Box 2232, Johannesburg,

South African Republic,

141 It February, 1896.
Gents, — Please give me cash offer for any
of the following Z. A. R. stamps : —

^d. on Is. (on envelope outside). used, price 2d.
Jubilee Id. ditto ., ,, 2d.

Id. on 2^d. „ „ 2d.

tid. Revenue, surchg. ' Postzegel ' ,, ,, (id.
A. reduction from these prices would be made
on taking over 5000 of any one sort, or of
clearing me out

As regards the 6d. Postzegel, I practically
have all that are obtainable.
English notes taken at par.
Yours faithfully,

W. E. Masters,

Assistant Postmaster.
Messrs Stanley Gibbons & Co., London."

Bisected Chilians.

Mr. J. N. Marsden sends ihe London
Philatelist " a c ver bearing the left half
of a bisected 1 Oc. Chilian stamp of i he first
issue on white paper, imperforate. The
cover in question," we are told, 4i was
despatched, from Valparaiso to Chili, and
bears a date stamp in red emanating from
the former town, with the date ' 18 Dbre,
1858.' The bisected stamp is postmarked
with black concentric circles, C obliteration
portant."

Surely somebody has been nodding.
To begin with, the bisected Chilian is a
common garden variety which fe;ches
from b*s. (id. to 10s. ; and Chili is not a
"former " or " hitler" town, but a fairly
well-known Eepublic of South America.

The South African Philatelist.

It is with unfeigned regret that we
chronicle the decease of this excellent
periodical. The following valedictory re-
marks in the sixth number, dated 1st
April, 1896, will explain matters: —

This number ends the contract between us
and our subscribers, to whom we guaranteed
sis numbers. The task was a most arduous one.
We had to battle against not only the discom-
forts caused by the political disturbances here,
but also the unsympathetic non-support of
philatelists in South Africa. We had literally
to write every syllable contained in the six
numbers ourselves. We had indeed a promise
of support in this direction abroad, but for some
unknown reason this did not pass the initial step
of fulfilment. Those who have any experience
at all of the publication of a journal in spare
time will understand what we had to contend
with. If with all this to discourage and leaden

i44

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

our burden we were successful in our work, as
is proved by our reception by the home phila-
telic journals, we may confidently congratulate
ourselves.

We have placed before our readers papers
dealing with the " Stamps and Forgeries of
Swazieland,"^ « The Stamps of Natal," " The
Stamps of British Bechuanaland and Bechuana-
land Protectorate," and " The Stamps of the
Orange Free State ;" a short paper dealing with
some " African Stamp Forgeries " and a " Lon-
don Letter " were also published, besides other
matters of interest to South African collectors.
We have done our utmost to expose any doubt-
ful dealing on the part of officials that has come
to our notice.

We now beg to intimate to our readers, and
not without feelings of regret, that this number
is the last of our venture. We do not desire to
discontinue the task we have undertaken, that
of supplying South African philatelists with an
organ, but we find that no advantage has been
taken of its medium. If, then, our philatelists
desire only the pleasure derived from perusing
our paj>es, without contributing to their making,
we will, for a limited period, publish only such
matter as will be light and pleasurable reading
on the subject in which we specialise

This publication will be a two-page one of
the same size, and produced in the same manner
as the South African Philatelist. Its title will
be The South African Philatelist Monthly
Bulletin, and will be circulated free, preferen-
tially to the late subscribers of this journal.
The news, and in fact all the matter, will be
written in the same manner as the " Monthly
Chat " herein. It will be launched in the trust
that it will be as successful as the South African
Philatelist now breathing its last.

The N.S. Wales " O.S." Swindle.

The New South Wales Government
Gazette has the following naive announce-
ment : —

With reference to the authority for the sale
to stamp collectors and others of complete sets
of obliterated " O.S." postage stamps, at £2 per
spf, it is hereby notified that his Excellency the
Governor, with the advice of the Executive
Council, has approved of the sale of these stamps
being discontinued.

Thus endeth a most disgraceful official
job. Had a private firm of stamp dealers
been guilty of such rascality we wonder
what would have happened.

Be Unfashionable.

That is the crying advice just now. It
is shouted from philatelic housetops in
all directions. Be philatelic Micawbers !
Go in for anything, and everything, in
the hope that something will turn up and
that, in the revolutions of Fortune's
wheel, the unfashionable stamps that you
have been gathering together for pence
will have their day and run into pounds.
And some are reported to be even going
the length of collecting Chinese locals

and other refuse condemned by the
S.S.S.S. In a judicious collection of
neglected countries there is no doubt
room for a far-seeing investment, inas-
much as experience shows us that all
countries worth collecting get their turn
in due course. But the shoddy !

Mr. Hilckes' Discoveries.

Mr. Hilckes seems to be a little un-
fortunate in his discoveries. He has in the
S.C.F. for May 16th heralded a pointed
bust of the " one anna blue," India, first
issue. But we fail to see how there can
be a pointed bust of the " one anna blue,"
inasmuch as there is no " one anna blue ."
It is possible that Mr. Hilckes may refer
to the one anna red. All the pointed
busts we have heard of occur in this
stamp. We can hardly believe he has a
" one anna blue " up his sleeve.

'I hen, again, he refers to a " very little
known" variety of Virgin Islands, 6d. rose,
with a large "V." He says the sheet
consists of 24 stamps in four rows of six.
A sheet of this value is before us, and
consists of 25 stamps in five rows of five.

Again, Mr. Hilckes locates the large
" Y " variety as the last stamp in the
third row, whereas it only occurs in the
first stamp in the second row, and is so
placed in the sheet before us.

A very interesting Transvaal Variety.

Mr. J. N. Luff, in the April number of
the American Journal of Philately, devotes
two pages to the description of a variety
(Transvaal Id. with numeral of value in
double frame) which he has not been able
to find mentioned by any writer on this
subject. Unfortunately, it is a well-
known forgery. It is true it puzzled the
early collectors of Transvaal for a time.
It turned up in 1872, and was exhibited
as an unchronicled variety by Dr. Viner
at a meeting of the Philatelic Society of
London on the loth March, 1873.

Waiting till the Sack was Full.

A Government report is said to vouch
for the following story : — The people of
Welkuma, Indiana, U.S., used to write let-
ters and get no answers. This was borne
for a year or two, but finally the people
got tired of it, and demanded an investi-
gation. The post office inspector came,
went through the office, and found a sack
nearly full of letters, the accumulation of
about three years- When asked why he
didn't send the letters off, the postmaster
replied that it was foolishness to put the
Government to the expense of making a
trip just for that little bundle. He
thought he would wait until the sack
was full.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF POSTAGE STAMPS.

Illustrations of postage Stamps.

IN THE QUEEN'S BENCH.

18th May, 1896.

FREDER1CH ISAAC DICKINS (OFFICER OF INLAND
REVENUE), APPELLANT, AND L. UPCOTT GILL,
RESPONDENT— CASE STATED BY SIR JOHN
BKIDGE.

An information was exhibited by the
appellant against the respondent under
section 7, subsection (r) of the Po>t Office
(Protection) Act, 1884, for having in his
possession on June 8, 1895, a certain die
and instrument for making a fictitious
stamp. It was proved that the die was
received by the respondent from one Van
Hoytema, who had received it from the
Continent of Enrope, and that the re-
spondent had ordered such die to be made
for him for use in illustrating the phila-
telists' supplement of the Bazaar, The
Exchange and Mart newspaper, and that
it had been made and delivered accord-
ingly. With the die a representation of
2^d. Cape of Good Hope stamp could be
produced. It was, however, proved to
the satisfaction of the magistrate that the
only purpose for which he hud ordered
and had in his possession the said die was
for making upon the pages of an illus-
trated stamp catalogue or newspaper
illustrations in black and white, and not
in colours, of the Cape of Good Hope
stamp in question, and that such illustra-
tions were intended to appear thereon,
together with illustrations of other
stamps, and that such catalogues were
intended for sale only to stamp collectors
and others and as part of a newspaper
published for the instruction and amuse-
ment of readers of and persons buying
such paper. It was contended on behalf of
the respondent that, inasmuch as it had
been proved or admitted that the die was
used only for the purposes aforesaid, the
respondent had shown a lawful excuse for
the posssesion of the said die. The magis-
trate found ((() that the respondent did
have in his possession a die or instrument
capable of making a fictitious stamp ;
(l>) that there were facts which showed
absolute bona fides in the respondent, and
that there was a certainty that the re-
spondent would not use the die for any
improper purpose. The magistrate
thought that this was evidence of a lawful
excuse, and found, as a fact, that there
was a lawful excuse, and dismissed the
information. The question for the opinion

of the Court was — "Whether it appeared
on the evidence as a matter of law that
there was no lawful excuse, and that con-
sequently the magistrate was not entitled
to find, as a fact, that there was a lawful
excuse.

The Solicitor-General (Sir E. Finlay,
Q.C.) and Mr. Danckwerts appeared for
the appellant, and submitted that the
Act abs' dutely prohibited the possession
of a die unless there was a " lawful ex-
cuse." By a " lawful excuse " was meant
such a case as that of a Custom House
officer who seized an imported die, or a
magistrate having a die in his possession
during the hearing of a case, but the mere
fact that there was an absence of guilty
purpose did not constitute a lawful ex-
cuse within the meaning of section 7,
subsection (e).

Mr. C. W. Mathews, for the respon-
dent, contended that authority from the
Crown, such as that suggested by tiie
Solicitor-General in the case of the Custom
Hou-e officer or magistrate, was not
necessary in order to constitute "lawful
excuse . ' ' Lawful excuse meant something
less than " authority/'

The Court allowed the appeal.

Mr. Justice Grantham said:— In
this case, as the respondent could not get
the die made here, he sent abroad and
had it made there for the purpose of
avoiding the money penalty under the
Act. I think after that it would be
difficult to make out his innocence within
the meaning of the Act. He had in his
possession a die which can be used for the
purpose of making a fictitious stamp. It
has been argued that if the respondent
were convicted a stamp collector might
be convicted under section 7, subsection
(/>), which says that a person shall not
have in his possession, unless he shows a
lawful excuse, any fictitious stamp. It
would be very hard that a man who inno-
cently bought a forged stamp should be
punished. And I think he would have a
''lawful excuse." He would be able to
say, " I believed it to be genuine," and
that would be an excuse in law. But
here the respondent knew that he must
go abroad to have the die made, and 1 do
not think he has shown any lawful excuse.
Mr. Justice Collixs concurred.
Case remitted to the magistrate, with
a direction to convict. — From The Times.

146

THE

■ILATELIC RECORD.

philatelic Society, ^ondon.

ANNUAL DINNER.

The Annual Dinner of the Philatelic Society
of London was held at the "Monico," Piccadilly
Circus, London, on Thursday, the 28th May.
Mr. M. P. Castle, Vice-President of the Society,
presided, and all told some fifty members and
guests sat down to dinner.

Amongst those present were, we noticed, the
following well-known collectors and dealers : —

Collectors.

Major Evans, Baron A. de "Worms, Messrs.
M. P. Castle, E. D. Bacon, J. A. Tilleard,
H. R. Oldfield, Gordon Smith, C. N. Biggs, T.
May cock, R. Pearce, W. W. Blest, E. Stanley
Gibbons. T. Wickham Jones, Rudolph MeTer,
W. T. Willett, &c.

Dealers.

Messrs. C. J. Phillips (Stanley Gibbons Ltd.),
W. T. Wilson, F. R. Ginn, Theodor Buhl
(Buhl & Co., Ltd.), Henry Calmnn (Scott
Stamp and Coin Co.), W. H. Peckett, R. F.
Albrecht, and — Gwyer (G. Hamilton, Smith
and Co.).

The Toast List.

The following was the toast list arranged by
the Dinner Committee, Messrs. D. Garth. C. N.
Biggs, and T. Wickham Jones, who, by common
consent, had arranged the banquet admirably : —

1. The Queen.

The Chairman.

2. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of

the Royal Family.
The Chairman.

3. Our Hon. President and Vice-President, H.R.H.
the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and H.R.H. the Duke

of York.
The Chairman.

4. Success to the Philatelic Society of London.

The Chairman. J. A. Tilleard, Esq.

5. The Philatelic Press.

H. R. Oldfield, Esq. E. J. Nankivell, Esq.

6. The Visitors.

Gordon Smith, Esq.

7. The Chairman.

Major Evans, R.A. The Chairman.

After the healtbs of the members of the
Royal Family had been loyally proposed and
loyally honoured,

The Chairman proposed the toast of " Our
Hon. President and Yice-President, H.R.H.
the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and H.R.H. the
Duke of York." He regarded it as a very high
honour that the Philatelic Society of London
had the names of two such illustrious members
of the Royal Family at the head of its member-
ship, and he hoped that they would long be
spared to fill the positions they occupied.

The Chairman then proposed the toast of the
evening, " Success to the Philatelic Society of
London." He felt compelled to refer at first
to the great loss the Society had sustained in
the lamented death of their much esteemed
President, the Earl of Kingston, and of the
Grand Duke Alexis Michaelovitch. During
the past year an old member, Mr. Chambers,
had retired from the Council, and Mr. Oldfield
had been elected to fill his place. He (the
Chairman) was extremely pleased to see
gathered together that night such a numerous
assemblage of gentlemen connected with stamp
collecting and stamp dispersal — (laughter) — in
various ways. (Laughter.) Turning to the
question of the dinner, he suggested that in
future they should have an annual fixed date
for their annual dinner. (Hear, hear.)

Glancing at what had been achieved or
attempted during the past year, he said, first
and foremost, they had after repeated warnings
— (laughter) — and considerable time, and thanks
to the co-operation of some of their more gifted
members, issued a fresh volume of the Society's
publications. The first part of the Society's
work on the African Colonies sustained the
high level of excellence which had been
reached in their previous publications, and
he hoped it would not be an immeasurable
— (laughter) — time before they would be
able to issue part II. (Hear, hear.)
Referring to the establishment of the
S.S.S.S. during the past year he asked
all who felt inclined to be critical to
remember that the greatest general was he who
made the fewest mistakes, and that the new
Society was doing its best to remedy an
admitted grievance, and even if it occasionally
trod upon people's corns — (laughter) — was a
most useful institution. (Hear, hear.) The
very success which had attended stamp-collect-
ing constituted a danger and compelled them to
have some society to sift the tares fiom the
wheat. The manly and straightforward mani-
festo issued by the American Society had been
a great help in the right direction. He sincerely
hoped in the interests of philately that they
would allow the widest possible latitude and
give credit to the new Society for conscientious
"work and discriminating power. During the
year there had been no diminution of prices in
stamps badly wanted, — (laughter) — but there
had perhaps been somewhat of a surfeit of
catalogues. (Laughter.) He scouted as
ridiculous the attempts which had been made
to price every stamp. No philatelist in his
senses should attempt such an absolutely im-
possible task, and for those who did, it was,
after all, only a question as to who made the
fewest mistakes. After advising those present
that the only way to make a fine collection was
to spread their golden lime on the philatelic

PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

trees, the Chairman dropped into a humorous
vein, classifying the followers of their pursuit
as birds, fishes, beasts, and reptiles. The birds
of course were the pure philatelists, who soared
above all sordid considerations — (laughter) —
and devoted themselves to philanthropic and
scientific work ; the fishes were the common
garden variety of collectors, who bought, sold,
and swopped ; the beasts were, of course, the
dealers, — (roars of laughter) — who preyed upon
the innocent birds and fishes— (laughter) — and
the reptiles were the speculants who neither
toiled nor spun, but simply hoarded. To which
class he himself belonged he would leave them
to decide for themselves. (Shouts of laughter.)
After this digression, which was immensely
enjoyed, the Chairman informed the audience
that he expected to die some day, and probably
others present were looking forward to a similar
event, and then he managed, in an altogether
non-suggestive way, to hint that other great
societies had grown rich in assets upon benefac-
tions, and why not theirs ?

At this stage a comic entertainment dispersed
the gloom which began to settle upon many
well-known faces obviously forced into con-
templating desirable benefactions to the Society
" at my decease."

Mr. J. A. Tilleard, the hon. secretary, re-
sponded to the toast of success to the Society,
and capped a well delivered speech with an
important announcement : ''I am very proud,''
said he, "'to be able to tell you that I have only
this day received an intimation from His Royal
Highness the Duke of York, our honorary vice-
president, to the effect that if it is the pleasure
of 'the Society, he will be pleased to accept the
position of President of the Council. He will
thus knit himself closer to the work of the
Society in becoming the actual president of the
Society." (Loud cheering). Mr. Tilleard then
referred to the work of the past season, and held

that it had been above the ordinary standard of
excellence by reason of the valuable papers
which had been read. In every way, in fact,
the work done had been instrumental in cement-
ing the fabric which those who had gone before
had built up with so much diligence and so
much care. (Cheers). The question of an
Exhibition for 1897 had been mooted, and was
under serious consideration. They had an
excellent offer from the Crystal Palace, but
matters had not progressed sufficiently for any
definite statement to be made, but he was
sanguine enough to believe that they would be
able to get up an Exhibition in 1897 which
would eclipse all past efforts in the rich and
rare treasures which would be laid open for
inspection. (Cheers).

Mr. H. R. Oldfield, in a drastic speech, pro-
posed " The Philatelic Press." He chaffed the
general Press for its frequent displays of ignor-
ance on matters philatelic, and the Philatelic
Press for its contemptuous indifference on some
matters brought to its notice.

Mr. E. J. Nankivell, in responding, defended
both the general and the philatelic press from
his friend's rasping criticism, underlying which
he knew there existed the kindliest sympathy
and appreciation.

The toast of " The Visitors " was proposed by
Mr. Gordon Smith, and responded to bv Mr.
Henry Caiman and Mr Albrecht. Mr. Caiman,
whilst admitting that their philatelic societies
in America had not yet done anything to equal
the splendid work done by the Philatelic Society
of London, said they very heartily appreciated
that work, and were not without hope of some
day doing something which should entitle them
to be considered honourable rivals. (Cheers.)

The health of the Chairman, proposed in
eulogistic terms by Major Evans, and modestly
responded to by Mr. Castle, brought a pleasant
evening to a pleasant close at a reasonably early
hour.

Rotable Stamps at Ruction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

VENTOM, BULL fit COOPER,

April 16 fit 17, 1896.

£ s. d.

Ceylon, 4d. rose, imperf. ... ... 14 0 0

Mecklenburg Schwerin, \ sur. red,

rouletted ... ... 5 10 0

Switzerland, Basle, 2£r. ... ... 5 0 0

April 28 fit 29, 1896.

Barbados, Id. on half 5s. ... pair 17 10 0

Gueat Britain, Is. green, oct.,dic 2* 5 0 0

Lagos, 5s. blue 17 10 0

Nevis, Gd. grey, litho 10 0 0

St. Lucia, Is. orange-brown ... 5 0 0

£ s. d.
St. Vincent, Id. red, on half Gd.,

blue-green on original ... ... G 0 0

ditto Is. indigo-blue, perf. 11 to

12|* 5 5 0

Trinidad, litho., fine ground, Id.

bright blue 7 7 0

ditto ditto, coarse-ground, Id. blue GOO

May 14 fit 15, 1896.
Oldenburg, second issue, Jgr,, black

on green'

5 5 0

Wurtemkurg, first issue, Gkr

green* 6 0 0

Spain, 1852, 2r. red pair 1G 5 0

148

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Zurich, 4 rappen black, hor. lines ...

Git k at Britain, 2d. without lines*

ditto, 4d. rose, medium garter hor.

strip of 3*
ditto, 2s. brown* ...
ditto, 10s. grey-green, anchor on
blued paper. "Specimen" ...
Ceylon, 4d. rose, imperf. ...
India, la. red, pin perf. on original

ditto, ^a. red, pair*

Cape of Good Hope, Woodblock,

4d. dark blue

Mauritius, Post Paid, Id vermilion,
pair
ditto, large fillet, 2d. blue
United States, 186], 5c. mustard
ditto, 1869 issue complete*
ditto, 1869 re-issue (except 30c,*; 20
United States. Periodicals, up to

60 dollars*

ditto, Executive, complete set* ...
ditto, Treasury, complete set* ...
ditto. Justice, complete set*
ditto, State, complete set up to and
including 90c.*...

ditto, State, 2 dollars*

ditto, ditto, 5 dollars*

ditto, ditto, 10 dollars*

ditto, ditto, 20 dollars*

Canada, 6d. purple-black, perf. 12*
New Brunswick, Is. violet
Nova Scotia, Is. violet
Bahamas, 4d. rose, perf. 15*
ditto, 6d. violet, perf. 13*

ditto, 6d. grey, perf. 15*

Barbados, Pro v., Id. on half 5s., on

original
British Guiana, 1851, lc. black on

magenta

Dominica, Is. carmine, C.A.
Nevis, 6d. grey, litho.*
St. Christopher, Is. orange-brown*
St. Vincent, 5s. rose-red*...

ditto, Id. in red on half 6d. blue
green* ... ... ... pair

ditto, 4d. in black on Is. vermilion
ditto, 4d. red-brown perf. 14* ...

Tobago, 6d. ochre, C A.*

Virgin Islands, 6d. pink, perf. 15*
ditto, 6d. purple, entire sheet

of 24*

ditto, Is. brown, sheet of 12*
Bolivar, first issue, 10c. green* ...
Dominican Republic, 1865, unreal,

black on yellow, laid paper*
New South Wales, Sydney View
3d. green* ...
ditto, Laureated, 8d. orange*

£ s.

25 0

5 15

37 0

5 0

5 5

12 0

8 0

12 10

8 0

23 15

10 0

6 12

13 15

20 10

15 15

7 15

1 18

13 5

5 15

2 2

18 15

10 15

9 15

16 10

17 0

20 0

0 1

8 5

0 !

9 5

8 2

6 1

5 12 6

5 10 0

5 0

18 18

Queensland, first issue, 2d. blue ...

ditto, ditto, 6d. green*
Victobia, yd. litho., constructed

plate of 50...

ditto. 5s. blue on yellow, strip of 3,
Westekn Australia, 6d. orange ...

PUTTICK & SIMPSON, April 20 & 21, 1{
Bolivar, first issue, 10c. green* ... 5 15
Buenos Ayres, 4 pesos red* ... 19 0

Colombia, 1862, 20c. red 7 15

Western Australia, 2d. mauve

(error)* 8 5

May 4 & 5, 1896.

British Guiana (1862), lc. rose,

grapes fine, but no roulettes
Cape of Good Hope, Woodblock,

star.

4d. red
Ceylon, 8d. yellow-brown,

perf.

Dominica, Is. mauve, C.A. ...
Labuan, 6c. red on 16c. blue
Mauritius, Postpaid, Id red

ditto, ditto, 2d. blue
Nevis, 6d. grey, litho.

ditto, 6d, green
New Brunswick, Is. mauve

ditto, Connell, perfs. cut*
Newfoundland, 6^ carmine-red
New South Wales, 5d. green, pair 11
Nova Scotia, Is. pale purple, cut... 10
St. Vincent, Id. red on half 6d.

blue-green* ... ... pair

ditto, 4d. on Is. vermilion

ditto, ditto, ditto*

HADLOW, April 27, 1896.
Tuscany, 3 lire, dark yellow ... 50 0

CHEVELEY, April 30 & May 1st, 1891

Bahamas, 4d. on 6d. sur. inverted... 9 0

Ceylon, 4d. rose imperf. ... ... 12 0

Great Britain, 5s. rose on bluish

plate 4* 8 10

13 13

21 0

5 0

5 5

5 0

8 0

12 5

8 5

18 0

17 15

13 15

11 10

10 10

14 15

10 10

16 5

BUHL & CO., April 22 &, 23, 1896.

Bbitish Honduras, 3c. small, on

3d. brown, perf . 12£ 8 10 0

Nevis, 6d. grey, litho 8 5 0

Tuscany, 60 crazie, brown-red ... H) 5 0

CHARLES JONES. PRINTER . LO N D ON

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News.

JUNE, 1896.

Qditorial <yfotQs.

HE London Philatelic Society is to be heartily congratulated upon
the fact that such a desirable President as H.R.H. the Duke of
York has been found willing to fill the gap caused by the sincerely
regretted death of the Earl of Kingston. H.R.H. is an ideal
President. He combines the highest essentials for the post. His
exalted position in the Empire and his enthusiasm for the pursuit
entitle him to the highest philatelic honours, and the Presidency of the Phila-
telic Society of London is certainly the blue ribbon of Philately. In thus
accepting the Presidency of the premier Society, H.R.H. has strengthened
the ties that bind him to Philately. His occupation of the post
will be no merely ornamental one, for he has long since estab-
lished his right to be regarded as a keen philatelist, and the
possessor of a very valuable collection that may, in many re-
spects, be considered absolutely unique.

As for the Society itself, it cannot fail to gain considerably in
prestige and in influence by the election of H.R.H., and we shall assuredly
only voice the sentiments of all philatelists in wishing the Philatelic Society

The new

President of

the London

Philatelic

Society.

of London a
President.

long, useful, and prosperous career under its distinguished

Proposed

Exhibition

in 1897.

The proposed Philatelic Exhibition for 1897 W*M not be
held at the Crystal Palace. The Committee inspected the
Palace, discussed the matter with the Directors, and reported
the facts to a joint meeting of Collectors and Dealers at Effing-
ham House. After considerable discussion the Palace was reluctantly abandoned
as unsuitable, mainly because of the risk of a prohibitive insurance tariff, and
the difficulty that would (in the opinion of several large Collectors) be expe-
rienced in efficiently protecting the exhibits, under an open canopy, from
burglary. Personally, we do not share the fears of those who have so strongly
opposed the Palace, nor do we believe there is any real foundation for the
statement used so effectively against the Palace, that leading collectors would
not risk their stamps in such a place, or that country collectors object to it
because it would necessitate yet another journey after reaching London. There
is yet time for big collectors and country collectors to make their views known.

i5o

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

When such experienced philatelists as Major Evans and Mr. E. D. Bacon, after
a full inspection of the Palace, remain strongly in favour of an exhibition being
held there, no philatelist, however valuable his collection, need nurse any fears
on the matter. The authorities of the Palace practically placed the arrange-
ments, in every particular, at the disposal of the Committee : they offered to
meet every possible requirement and make every possible arrangement for the
proper care and protection of the exhibits. In our opinion Philately, as a pur-
suit, would gain immensely from the added popularity of an Exhibition at the
Crystal Palace, and as an agreeable holiday rendezvous for London and pro-
vincial philatelists it certainly can have no equal in any rooms that may be
selected in the sweltering streets of central London. But, perhaps, the less
said about the opposition that has been raised to the Crystal Palace the better.
Having abandoned the generous offer of the Palace, the meeting was
brought face to face with the necessity of raising a large guarantee fund to
provide for the heavy expenditure . which would be the inevitable result of
holding the Exhibition in specially rented rooms elsewhere. This difficulty
was at once met by Mr. Castle offering a guarantee oi £jqo, Mr C. J. Phillips
(Stanley Gibbons Ltd.) /ioo, Mr. W. H. Peckett Aoo, and Mr. W. Hadlow

Thereupon the following Collectors and Dealers were appointed a pre-
liminary Executive Committee to search for a suitable place for holding the
Exhibition, to arrange the preliminaries, and to report to another joint meeting
of Collectors and Dealers : — Major Evans, Messrs. E. D. Bacon, M. P. Castle,
M. Giwelb, W. Hadlow, E. J. Nankivell, C. J. Phillips, W. H. Peckett, and
J. H. Tilleard, Hon. Sec.

We are now waiting the report of that Committee. It has already met
several times, has visited all the available halls in central London, and may be
expected to report very shortly as to site.

We are informed that the Committee of the S.S.S. of the
Seebeck Issues.

United States, after considerable negotiations, have succeeded

in effecting the following agreement with Mr. Seebeck : —
In consideration of the fact that Mr. Seebeck agrees to use bis influence with certain Central
and South American Governments (withwbichhe has contracts for the furnishing of postage
stamps for the years 1897, 1898 and 1899), to induce them to accept, in lieu of a special issue for
each year, a three years' supply of the stamps for 1897, also to place this issue in circulation on
January 1st, 1897, and use it exclusively for the prepayment of postal matter for the term of at
least three years,

We the undersigned, dealers in foreign postage stamps, hereby agree that, in case any of the
governments above referred to should enter into any contract similar to those entered into with
Mr. Seebeck, we will not purchase or sell the stamps issued under such contracts, either directly
or indirectly, after theyhave become obsolete and are rendered useless for the prepayment of
postage in the countries in which they may have been issued.

The American Journal of Philately holds that the effect of this agreement
is to practically end the so-called Seebeck issues with next year.

But we observe that nothing is said about the traffic in "remainders,"
which after all is the objectionable part of the Seebeck arrangement. It seems
to us to be an agreement to secure Mr. Seebeck from competitive contracts,
rather than an agreement to protect stamp collectors from floods of shoddy.
It is true it stipulates for a triennial flood in place of an annual one, but so far
as we can interpret the arrangement the traffic in remainders is to continue
unabated. In effect it really is an agreement to be signed by dealers to secure
to Mr. Seebeck a safe monopoly of his traffic in remainders, for dealers are
asked to bind themselves not to buy any remainders which may be put on the
market in competition with Mr. Seebeck's. What collectors gain from this
agreement we fail to see.

In our opinion it will take a great deal more than this one-sided agreement
to whitewash the Seebecked States and make them collectable.

EDITORIAL NOTES. 151

Since the publication of our last issue the question of the

Illustrations privilege of illustrating postage stamps has reached another

of Postage stage. Mr, Upcott Gill has been mulcted in a nominal fine by

Stamps. the magistrate who was directed by the Judges in the Queen's

Bench to convict. But the most important phase of the matter
was the statement by the Counsel for the prosecution that the Inland Revenue
authorities are determined to put a stop to the practice of illustrating postage
stamps. Under these circumstances we suggest that a meeting of Collectors
and Dealers should forthwith be called to consider this decision, and to decide
what steps are necessary to protect Philately and the trade from such a spiteful
and wanton attack. The interests involved are wide-spread and important. It
is not too much to say that illustrations of some sort are a sine qua non to the
continued existence of our pursuit, and that some way will have to be found
out of the difficulty that has been so unnecessarily raised. According to the
latest dictum, no die may be used to illustrate a postage stamp that could be
used for the production of a forgery. This apparently still leaves us the right
of illustration by reduction or enlargement.

A th b* ^et anotner big collection has got into the market, and this
no er ig- ^me jt j^g fa]}en to the lot of Mr. F. R. Ginn to break it

up. The collector who retires from the pursuit is Mr. J.

Dalgety Henderson, an old member of the Philatelic Society of
London. For years he has practically dropped out of collecting, and at last he
decided to part with his treasures, and Mr. Ginn became the purchaser, the
sum being ^3,000. Amongst the plums in the collection, which covered
several volumes and ran into some 40,000 stamps, mostly picked copies, were
1 cent, Canada, on pelure paper, unused ; a fine array of Newfoundlands ;
British Columbia 2|d and 5 cents, imperf.; unused Sydneys ; St. Vincents, nearly
complete, used and unused ; a grand lot of early Ceylons and fine Nevis, used
and unused. The retirement of an old collector is to be regretted from many
points of view, but it is not an unmixed evil ; it gives others a chance of filling
blanks of which they may have begun to despair.

152 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Qarly Jssuos of TJ^estem Australia.

By Lipman E. Hush.

The Third Issue (continued).

pW ESSRS. PERKINS, BACON & CO. printed the stamps of the
N»l-\ Colony at this time and furnished a further batch, after which

their contract terminated, and they therefore handed the plates
from which the stamps were printed to the Agents General for
the Crown Colonies, who, when more stamps were required
handed the plates and some paper (8,000 sheets) to Messrs.
De La Rue & Co., who have since supplied the Colony. As far as I know,
there is at present no means of distinguishing the impression of the one firm
from that of the other, but I certainly am of opinion that there should be some
differences either in retouches of the plates or in the perforations. I think
the latter will be the means by which they will be eventually distinguished
from each other. Access to the books of the printers does not seem to be so
difficult a matter now, and it is a point which already requires investigating.

The Fourth Issue.

Messrs. De La Rue having used up all the swan-watermarked paper,
proceeded to print the stamps on a thick greasy unwatermarked paper,
changing the colours and also the perforation. We therefore have to add to
our list : —

On white wove unwatermarked paper, perf. 13.

One Penny carmine-rose, lake.

Sixpence mauve, lilac.

I have seen other values catalogued, but I believe that only two values were
printed on this paper.

The Fifth Issue.

Messrs. De La Rue now printed the stamps on paper watermarked Crown
and C.C., introducing a plentiful supply of errors, and giving us in all —

Wmk. Crown and C.C.,perf. 12

id. chrome yellow, bistre, yellow ochre.
2d. chrome yellow, bistre, yellow, mauve.
4d. carmine.

6d. lilac, mauve, red-violet, violet, purple,
is. bright green, sage green and bistre.

There is a peculiarity about the stamps — it is that they exist with the water-
marks in different positions.

The One Penny is watermarked sideways.

The Twopence )

The Fourpence > watermarked sideways or upright.

The Sixpence J

The One Shilling is watermarked upright.

I do not know of the One Penny watermarked upright, nor of the One
Shilling watermarked sideways.

If they exist they must be very scarce, as I have examined some thousands
of these stamps and not found them.

BRITISH EAST AFRICA AND ZANZIBAR. 153

The Twopence, Fourpence, and Sixpence are quite common with the water-
mark upright, but with the watermark sideways the Twopence and Sixpence
are scarce, and the Fourpence is almost rare.

With this issue some catalogues add some values watermarked a swan and
perf. 12^. It is almost unnecessary to add that it is quite impossible for them
to exist, as the printers had none of the paper of that watermark left, and they
are in a perforation unknown in the swan watermarked stamps.

During this issue Western Australia was first reduced to the necessity of
overprinting a stamp in order to meet the wants of a. growing community, and
for this purpose overprinted the stamp of the value Twopence with One Penny
in two words in green.

So we have — Wmk. Crn. and C.C., perf. ii\.

Provisional Issue.

One Penny (on Two Pence) green on chrome yellow.

There are no varieties of this surcharge, and I herewith give the measure-
ments.

The surcharge is 21mm. wide measured at the tops of the small letters, the
initial capitals are 3mm. high, the small letters i-|mm. high. The word
" Penny" is u^mm. long measured at the bottom, and the distance between
" One" and " Penny" is 3mm. The surcharge is not in a straight line, the
words begin on the same level and slope upwards to the right. There are
numerous counterfeit surcharges, some of which are very dangerous and difficult
to detect.

British Qast Africa and Zanzibar.

By the Postmaster-General.

E have received the following very courteous reply from the
Postmaster- General of British East Africa and Zanzibar to
queries which we addressed to him in February last. We must
confess we see no reason for the suspicion with which these,
provisionals have been regarded in some quarters.

Zanzibar Post Office, dated 12/h March, 1896.

From The Postmaster- General (British East Africa and Zanzibar), Za?izibar,
to Edward J. Nankivell, Esq., •' Philatelic Record" Carisbrook, Birdhurst
Rise, Croydon.

11 Sir, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 15th February,
together with a copy of the Philatelic Record.

I think it is only due to genuine stamp collectors that any doubts they may
have as regards the bona fides of the British F2ast Africa and Zanzibar surcharged
provisional and overprinted stamps should be removed ; hence, although I am
exceedingly hard pressed for time, I feel compelled to answer your inquiries.

(1) Previous to 20th November, 1895, the Post Office in Zanzibar was under
the control and formed part of the Indian Post Office. On 20th November
the Indian Post Office at Zanzibar was withdrawn, and the Zanzibar Govern-
ment instituted its own Post Office. As the Zanzibar Government's own
permanent stamp had not then been printed, it was necessary, with the kind
consent of the Postmaster-General, Bombay, to use, provisionally, Indian
stamps overprinted ' Zanzibar.'

54 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

(2) New stamps are ordered showing a photograph of H.H. the Sultan of
Zanzibar, with palm trees, red flags, and Arabic writing. I expect to obtain the
first supply within the next two months.

(3) The various values of stamps will be \, 1, 2, i\, 3, 4, 5, 7J, and 8 annas ;
Rs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

(4) Indian Stamps. — I am unable to give you exact figures now, but over
10,000 of each value overprinted British East Africa, and over 15,000 of each
value overprinted Zanzibar. The overprinting was done at Zanzibar Gazette
Office, not in London as I have seen stated.

(5) Roughly speaking, about 3,000 of each of the values up to Rs. 1,
and 1,000 of 2, 3, 4, 5 rupees of I. B. E. A. Company's stamps were over-
printed British East Africa, excepting the 2 annas stamp, and there were very
few of these in stock. Perhaps there were less than 3,000 of the 1, 5, and
7-J ans.

(6) The new design for British East Africa is ordered, and I expect the
stamps shortly.

(7) The surcharging of the late I. B. E. A. Company's stamps was done
at Mombasa by a hand stamp, under my supervision. This hand stamp was
made by fixing printer's type into a wooden handle with a hollow at one end,
and the type secured by pouring in melted lead. This was the only way to
overcome the difficulty that presented itself when the Government took over
the territory of the late I. B. E. A. Company, as I was unable to get them
overprinted at a printer's in Mombasa, and there was no time to send
them to Zanzibar. It was owing to the fact that the stock of stamps was so
small at this time in Mombasa, that I was compelled to issue the provisional
i\ ans. surcharged on \\ ans. I. B. E. A. Company's Stamp, overprinted
British East Africa, and the i\ ans. surcharged on i\ ans. Indian stamps
overprinted British East Africa ; also the Zanzibar stock of Indian i\ ans.
stamp, being so small and becoming exhausted, compelled me to issue a
provisional i\ ans. surcharged on if ans. stamp.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

THOS. E. C. REMINGTON,

Postmaster-General."

STAMPS OF BRITISH BECHUANALAND. 155

j^tamrps of bechuanaland.

[From the South African Philatelist. ~]

RITISH Bechuanaland is bounded on the East by the South African
Republic, on the South by the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope,
on the West by the Molopo River, on the North by the said
Molopo River to its division with the Ramathlabana Spruit, and
thence from the said Spruit to the Frontier of the South African
Republic.
The Protectorate is bounded on the East by the territory of British Bechu-
analand, on the South by the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, on the West
by the twelfth meridian of Longitude East of Greenwich, and on the North
by the Nosop or Oup River between its intersection by the twentieth meridian
of East Longitude aforesaid and its junction with the Molopo River.

The area is 41,663 square miles, population 12,726, of which 5,254 were
whites, 4,351 aboriginal natives, and 3,121 other coloured persons.

The Governor, His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, P.C., G.C.N.G.;
Administrator, Chief Magistrate, and Deputy Commissioner, His Honour Sir
Sidney G. A. Shippard, D.C.L., K.C.M.G.

On the establishment of the Crown Colony of British Bechuanaland the
Republic of Stellaland became the Magisterial district of Vryburg.

The stamps of British Bechuanaland and Bechuanaland Protectorate do not
present many difficulties to the collector, nor are they difficult in being obtained.
The great drawback, however, is the large number of excellently executed
forgeries in circulation, and collectors have to be very discreet in making
purchases.

The surcharges in the " Protectorate " series are very interesting to the
specialist, abounding as they do in such a large variety of misprints, errors, and
sizes of surcharge.

I. British Bechuanaland.

The first issue took place in January, 1886, and might be termed a provi-
sional issue, Cape of Good Hope stamps being used surcharged in black
" British Bechuanaland " into two lines, the ^p. value being surcharged in red.
The surcharge was printed in Cape Town, probably by the Government printers,
Messrs. W. A. Richards & Co.

Four values constituted the first omission, the ^p. grey Cape of Good
Hope with surcharge in red, the ip. carmine, and the 3p. claret surcharged in
black all on paper watermarked Crown and C.A. and the 4p. blue surcharged
in black on paper with Crown and C.C. watermark.

In the same year three new values were brought into service, namely, the
2p. brown Cape of Good Hope, the 6p. violet, and is. green, all surcharged
" British Bechuanaland" in black on paper watermarked Cabled Anchor.

The £p. grey and ip. carmine also appeared on paper with the latter water-
mark. These surcharges are surprisingly free from errors, the only two worthy
of note being the ^p. and ip. on paper watermarked Cabled Anchor with
double surcharge.

In 1887 the permanent issue for British Bechuanaland came to hand, con-
sisting of thirteen values, ^p. surcharged " British Bechuanaland " in black in
two lines on the current English stamp of that denomination, and ip., 2p., 3p.,
4p., 6p., is., 2s., 2s. 6p., 5s., ios., £1 and £5.

156 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Type of the lower values from ip. to 6p., " Queen's Statue Head " in square
value on either side, below in small capitals in black "British" " Bechuana-
land," u Postage and Revenue " in three lines. Watermark Orb.

Type of the higher values from is. " Queen's Statue Head " in oval, value
above and below head in semi-circle, inscription below as in lower values.
Watermark " V.R." slanting, the £i and £5, however, being on paper bearing
the orb watermark.

In the next year, 1888, the values most commonly used, namely, the ip.,
2p., 4p., 6p., and is. were surcharged with the numerals of value, the ip , 3p.,
and is. being surcharged in black, the 4p. in red, and the 2p. both in red and
ip. green.

This was evidently found necessary to facilitate identification of the various
denominations, and to prevent mistakes being made, as all the lower values up
to 6p. are lilac with denominations printed in same colour.

Owing to the stock of ^p. stamps running out the 3p. lilac and black was
surcharged " One Half-Penny " in black in three lines, the original value being
erased by a single bar.

In January, 1889, the iP- SreY Cape of Good Hope stamp with watermark
Cabled Anchor was again pressed into service with the surcharge in green and
black. This also exists with double surcharge.

In 1891, pending a further supply of ip. and 2p. stamps, the postal autho-
rities had again recourse to surcharging, the ip. carmine and 2p. brown Cape
of Good Hope, watermarked Cabled Anchor, being surcharged vertically
" British Bechuanaland " in black in two lines, the surcharge reading from
bottom to top. This surcharge was carefully executed, no errors or misprints
being made, or if they were made they were not placed in circulation.

In 1892, anew issue of the ip., 2p., 4p., and 6p. took place. Type Current
English stamps of those values surcharged " British Bechuanaland " in black,
in two lines across the stamp.

In this surcharge, there are several minute varieties, which are only of
interest to the specialist, such as the cross stroke of the " A " of " Bechuana-
land " missing dots in various letters, crooked and broken letters, &c.

In December, 1893, owing to the supplies of the ip. value not coming to
hand, the Cape of Good Hope stamp of that value was surcharged "British
Bechuanaland " in exactly the same type as the provisional issue of 1891, the
only difference being that the surcharge runs from top to bottom, whereas that
of 1 89 1 runs from bottom to top. This surcharge was most carelessly printed,
there being numerous varieties of broken types and omissions, the most note-
worthy being broken " ch " of " Bechuanaland," and the dots of the " i's " in
"British" being omitted. Each of these occur once on each pane of 120
stamps. A remarkable feature of this surcharge is that it also occurs inverted.
Naturally we must possess either the surcharge with the dots of the "i's"
omitted or with «• ch " broken to identify the 1893 issue, as the normal sur-
charge, if inverted, would merely be one of the 189 1 provisionals, i.e., with
surcharge running from bottom to top.

In September, 1894, tne Is- British Bechuanaland surcharged on current
English stamp of that value was issued, this forming the complement of the
1892 omission.

On the 15th March, 1895, owing to the 2p. value being out of stock the
Cape of Good Hope stamp of that denomination on paper with Cabled Anchor
watermark, was surcharged " British Bechuanaland " in two lines in black,
reading from top to bottom. Type being same as that of the Provisional ip.
of 1893.

For this surcharge the type was evidently re-set, as the errors and misprints
occurring on the ip. provisional are not found on this surcharge. This pro-
visional issue was in circulation only for about six weeks.

STAMPS OF BRITISH BECHUANALAND.

*57

EEFEEENCE LIST.

Cape of Good Hope stamps-

Provisional Issue January, 1886. On
Watermark Crown & C.A. Perforated 14.

1 gp, red and grey

2 lp. black and carmine

3 3p // claret

4 4p. // blue (wink. C, & C.C.)

On Cape of Good Hope stamps. Watermark Cabled Anchor. Perforated 14.

5 ^p. black and grey

6
6a

7
8
9

ip.

lp.
lp.
2p.
6p.
Is.

(double surcharged)
carmine

// (double surcharged)

brown
violet
green.

Issue ii

British Bechuanaland. Postage and Revenue. Perforated 14,

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

iV-
lp.

2p.

3p.

4p.

Op.

Is,

2s.

2s.6p.

5s.

10s.

£1

£5

black and scarlet (surch. on current English, wmk. Crown)
black and lilac (wmk. orb)

black

lilac 11

11 11

green (wmk.

V. R. slanting)

lilac (wmk. orb)

1888. Surcharged with numerals of value.

23 lp. black and lilac (wmk. orb)

24 2p. red, black, & lilac //
25a 3p. green 11 u 11

25 4p. red // // u

26 6p. black

27 Is. //

Provisional.

// green (wmk. V.R. slanting)

on 3p. black on lilac (wmk. orb)

Issue January, 1889.

29 |p.

29a ip.

green and black

11 11 (double surcharge)

1891. Provisional Issue or Cape of Good Hope. Wmk. Cabled Anchor.

Surcharge reading from bottom to top.

30 lp. black and carmine.

31 2p. 11 11

1892. Surcharged on current English stamps. Wmkd. Perf. 14.

32 lp. black and lilac

33 2p. black, red and green

34 4p. black, brown and green

35 6p. black and purple and red

36 Is. black and green

1893. December. Prov. Issue or Cape of Good Hope stamps. Wmkd.

Cable Anchor. Surcharge reading from bottom to top.

37 lp. black and carmine
37a

Sept. 1894.

37 b
37c
37d

15 March, 1825.

lp. // //

lp. a a

lp. // //

2p. black and brown

broken '• ch "

do. inverted surch.
dots to " i's " omitted
do. do. inverted surcharge.

1 58 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

II. Bechuanaland Protectorate.

The first separate issue for this place was made in July, 1888, when the
then current issue of British Bechuanaland was surcharged " Protectorate " in
black across the stamp. The following values constituted the first issue, viz. :
■|p., ip., 2p., 3p., 4p., 6p., is., 2s., 2s. 6p., 5s., and 10s. The values ip. to 6p.
having also numerals of value in black, the 4p. being in red. There are
numerous misprints in the surcharge of the word " Protectorate," many
of the letters being broken and making the word read in all sorts of
fashions. The most important varieties being "Pr tectorate," "Piotecto-
rate," " Proteciorate." The ^p. value appears ^ith the word " Protectorate "
printed in three distinct sizes of type, of which the one in large letters
is scarcest.

In January, 1889, the -Jp. grey Cape of Good Hope stamp on paper with
Cabled Anchor Watermark was called in to do postal service with '• Bechuana-
land Protectorate " surcharged in green. This value appears also with double
surcharge and with inverted surcharge.

In August, 1889, the -|p. of the 1888 series was surcharged " Fourpence "
in black in one line. In this provisional there are innumerable varieties. In
addition to the numerous varieties of misprints in the word " Protectorate "
we have the word " Fourpence " spelt in all manners of ways such as " Foui,"
" Fcur," &c, also with the surcharge inverted.

REFEEENCE LIST.

le July,

1888

Current British Bechuanaland surcharged "Protectorate,

perf. 14.

Jp. black and scarlet surcharged in small type, wmk. crown

Jp. // // // in medium type, //

ip. // // // in large type, //

lp. // and lilac, watermark orb

lp. // ir a 11

3p. // // // //

4p. // // // //

4p. black, red and lilac // //

6p. // and lilac // //

Is. // green wmk., V.R slanting

10a

Is. // // // surch, "Protectorate"

2s. black and green wmk., V.R.

2s, 6p. // // //

OS. // // //

10s. // // //

January, 1889. Cape of Good Hope Stamp surcharged " Bechuanaland
Protectorate," perf. 14, wmk. Anchor.

15 ^p. green and grey

15a Jp. // // double surcharge

Prov. Issue August, 1889. Current English lp. surcharged " Protectorate
Fourpence," wmk. Crown. Perf. 14.

16 4p. (on £p.) black and scarlet

16a 4p. (on |p.) // // inverted surcharge.

On the 15th November, 1895, British Bechuanaland was annexed to the
Cape Colony and all British Bechuanaland stamps withdrawn from issue, those
of the Cape of Good Hope being used. It is only natural therefore that the
stamps of British Bechuanaland and Bechuanaland Protectorate should show
a marked advance in price in the near future. I would advise collectors to
complete their collections of the stamps of this country with as little delay as
possible, recommending to them in particular the is. British Bechuanaland
surcharged on the current English of that value.

LUBECK ERROR OF 1859. 159

^uhock Qrror of 1859.

FROM THE " ILLUSTRIERTES BRIEFMARKEN JOURNAL.

{Continued from p. 132.)

II. i\ Schillings, rose.

,_, 1. The " eyebrows " are smaller ; the left one is not curved at all ; it is
» very short, and does not extend nearly as far over the " u " ; in fact,
" its extremity does not reach the right-hand dot over the '* u."

2. Between the two heads of the eagle there are two dots ; the one to the
left is close to the neck, the other is on a level with the eye of the bird.

3. There is no period after either " Postmarke" or " Schilling."

4. — The vertical line does not curve quite so much, and is decidedly farther
from the frame line of the stamp than in the stamp of 2 schillings.

I believe that we can now safely conclude that retouched electro-
types of the i\ schillings were used when our error was printed.

Owing to the manner in which the plates were prepared, there
can be no varieties of type in these stamps ; therefore, the two errors
would be of the same type were it not for the fact that, when the i\
was removed and a 2 substituted, differences arose. It is evident
that each i\ had to be erased and replaced by a 2 ; this, of course,
was done by hand, and the result was that each of the 2's has a

peculiarity of its own ; thus we have two very interesting types of the error,

which are quite worthy of collection.

The differences are found in the shape of the figure 2, and I will now
describe in succession the 2's of the four corners, comparing them at the same
time with the 2 of the rest of the plate. Stamp No. 97 of the sheet I will call
type L, and stamp No. 96 will then be type II.

We will begin our comparison with —

1. — The Figure 2 in the upper left corner.

a. The usual type ofi schillings.

Here the first part of the 2 is short and thick ; it stands quite close to the
downward stroke, leaving only a very small brown space. The downward
stroke is boldly drawn in its upper part ; then it narrows down
considerably and ends in a sharp point at the foot of the figure.
The bounding line of the upper part of the long stroke, that is
to say, the one which faces the head of the figure, is almost
vertical ; the boundary of the lower part is formed by a line
turning sharply to the left. To this lower part is attached the
foot of the 2 ; this foot has a decided swing to it, and its end points almost
directly upwards. The foot is so attached that the sharp point of the main
stroke is clearly visible below it. Altogether this 2 presents quite an elegant
appearance.

i6o THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

b. Type I of the error {No. 97) :

The first part of the 2 is smaller, but advances farther out, leaving a wider
space for the brown of the background. The downward stroke is stouter on
the whole, and does not narrow down so much in its lower part ;
nor does it turn as sharply towards the left as in the ordinary
type. The bounding of its upper part, facing the head of the
figure, is no longer vertical, but curves towards the right. The
lower part of this main stroke is broader. The foot of the 2 is
short and broad, and has very little swing to it. Its extremity
points still more directly upwards, and consequently approaches the main stroke
more nearly than was the case before. Below this foot, the point of the main
stroke is hardly perceptible. On the whole, the appearance of this 2 is not
nearly as elegant as the 2 on the preceding stamp.

c. Type II. of the error {No. 96) :

The head of the 2 is larger than in the other two stamps ; it does not

advance so far as in type I., but reaches farther down, so that there is a longer

space for the brown of the background. The main stroke is

SS^ quite stout, and is not of so pleasing a shape ; its upper part is

KjfBr but little curved, and is prolonged for a considerable distance

B9/ downwards ; its lower part has more the appearance of being

!5> jointed to the upper part than of being simply an extension of it.

The foot is short and stout ; it is straight underneath and curved

on top. The end is less steep, but stouter than in the two figures which we

have described before.

2. — The Figure 2 in the Upper Right Corner.

a. The usual type of '2 schillings :

This figure is, on the whole, very similar to the one in the upper left corner,
although less broad. The head of the figure advances still less ; the upper
part of the downward stroke does not curve so far to the right ;
the lower part of this stroke bends less sharply to the left, and is
thicker. The foot is a little shorter and is decidedly curved ; its
end points directly upwards. Below the foot the end of the main
stroke is distinctly visible.

b. Type I. of the error :

In the first type of the error, the upper right 2 is again more awkward than
in the 2 schillings, although it is better formed than the upper left 2 of the
error, as the proportion between the head and the foot is a
better one. The head is small, not advancing so far out to the
left ; the upper part of the main stroke is quite thin ; its lower
part is almost of the same thickness as the upper, but it bends
more to the left, thus leaving more space for the foot. This
foot is indeed stout, but is long in proportion ; its end is short
and very steep. If, in the upper left 2, a line should be drawn perpendicularly,
just touching the left curve of the head, it would not touch the foot at all ;
but if a similar line should be drawn in the upper right 2, it would pass through
the foot of the figure. This right 2 has a very distinct point below the foot.

LUBECK ERROR OF 1859. 161

c. Type II. of the error.

This upper right 2 looks very much like the similarly situated 2 of the
regular 2 schillings ; the head, however, advances farther, thus causing a
wider space between it and the main stroke of the figure ; the
main stroke is stouter, the foot heavier. Compared with type L,
the head is larger and broader; the foot, on the contrary, is
narrower, and the whole figure stiffer. Moreover this 2 is about
\ mm. longer than the 2 of the first type.

3. — The Figure 2 in the lower left corner.

a. The usual type of 2 schillings :

The head projects somewhat, but has the appearance of being quite long,

because the line connecting it with the main stroke is exceedingly thin ; indeed,

in specimens that are not very clearly printed, the connection

ijo appears to be severed. In the upper 2, the bounding line of the

J5%jN main stroke facing the head, was vertical ; it now slants from the

li^SSy right down to the left ; the lower part is not so smoothly con-

IhiBO nected with the upper, but shows a sort of crooked joint; the

lower part is very steep, and consequently does not advance so

far to the left. The foot is sharply bent, short and broad ; its end is much

shorter than any of the 2's which we have so far described, and it points

towards the right rather than upwards. The left point of the foot is long and

sharp, and points almost directly downwards.

b. Type I, of the error:

The head is small, but compared with that of the regnlar 2 schillings, it

advances very far to the left ; the main stroke is less steep and less stiff. The

foot is broad and but little curved ; its lower bounding line,

|,p especially, is almost straight. The right end of the foot is

jjS^v beautifully curved ; a very small point is visible below the foot

Kb>- on thc left* The heacl of tlie fioure appears Quite tnm m pr°-
wLJmLo portion to the size of the foot.

c. Type II. of the error :

The head and the whole upper part of this figure, when compared with the

other two, appear very large, especially the upper part of the main stroke,

which is very broad and descends to a considerable distance.

I.- The lower part of this main stroke is shorter in proportion, is

K^* more slanting than curved, and is very stout. The foot is not so

ET&y broad ; it has less of a swing than the same figure in the regular
Bb^Ko 2 schillings, but more than in type I. The main peculiarity here
is in the end of the foot ; it is more strongly curved than in any
of the other 2's, so much so indeed that its tip points a little towards the left,
that is to say, towards the centre of the figure.

{To be continued.')

l62

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Jfovolties and j£)iscovevie$.

Argentine Republic. — We quote
from the Monthly Journal the following
translation from La Revue Philatelique
Francaise of an interesting letter from
Mons. Marco del Pont, describing two
varieties of the lc, brown catalogued
under 1889, but which was first issued
November 3rd, 1888. It appears that
the first die made was never properly
hardened, and in consequence it was
found impossible, after a short time, to
make new plates from it, and a second
matrix die had to be engraved. The most
prominent points of difference between
the two are as follows : —

Type I. 1. The background of the oval is
forme 1 of horizontal lines, crossed by diagonal
ones ; the latter are not always visible in im-
pressions from the worn plates of this type,

2. The ground of the outer portion is formed
of thin lines, close together, and is framed by a
thick line at the sides and below,

3. The figure in each of the upper corners
has a long and sloping top serif.

4. The inscription "correos y telegrafos"
is in thin letters, and there is a space of about
lmm. at each end of the label containing it.

5. There is no dot in the centre of the " o "

Of " TELEGRAFOS."

6. The words "ra centavo " measure 9mm.

7. The hair shows all round the outline of
the head.

The colour of the impression varies from
deep brown to brown, grey-brown and yellow-
brown. The paper of the earliest printings was
thick, showing a manufacturer's wmk. in certain
portions of the sheets ; in the later printings it
was thinner and unwatermarked. The number
printed was 17,050,000,

Type II. 1. The ground of the oval is of
horizontal lines only.

2. That of the outer part is of thick vertical
lines, further apart than in Type I., and is not
framed.

3. The figures <: 1 " have short upper serifs,
almost horizontal.

4. (- correos y telegrafos " is in thicker
letttrs. and almost fills the label.

5. There is a dot, or flaw, in the centre of
the "o" of "telegrafos."

6. "un centavo" measures 9|mm.

7. There is a place bare of hair on the upper
right side (left of the stamp) of the head.

The colour of the impression varies from
brown to grey-brown. The paper is the thinner
quality, without wmk. The number printed
was 2,750,000, out of which 1000 copies were

surcharged " muestra " (specimen), and 29,544
remainders ( among which may have been some
of Type I.) were destroyed.

Barbados.— We have received from
Messrs. Whitfield King & Co a copy of
the one farthing stamp referred to in our
last issue (p. 135). It is of the current
type, printed in a grey colour with the
value " one farthing " in carmine on the
lower label.

Adhesive.
Jd. grey, value in carmine.

British East Africa.— Messrs. Whit-
field King & Co. send us an envelope with
a stamp of the new design, printed in
blue. In the centre is a small medallion
of the Queen, head and shoulders draped
in widow's weeds, on each side is a lion
rampant, spears extend diagonally behind
the medallion t > the four corners. At the
top in coloured block letters on white
ground in two lines are the words "British
East — Africa." Immediately underneath,
in smaller white letters on a coloured
ground, are the words " Postage and
revenue." A curved label at the base of
the medallion bears the value in coloured
block letters on a white ground, " 2 A
annas," and in a straight label, extending
the whole width of the stamp at the foot,
is the word " Protectorate" in coloured
block letters on a white ground. The
whole is surrounded with a thin coloured
line. The design is novel, pretty, and
effective. The size of the stamp is 22f mm.
by 19|mm. The envelope, which is of white
laid paper, measures 141mm. by 78^mm.

At the moment of going to press we
are indebted to Mr. Bottliwaila, of
Bombay for, a full set of the new design
as follows : —

Adhesives.
\ anna, yellow.
i ,, rose.

2 annas, chocolate.
2.\ ,, blue.

3 ,, slate.

4 ,, deep green.
4^- ,, orange.

5 ,, dark ochre.
l\ ,, lilac.

8 ,, olive green,
i rupee ultramarine.

2 rupees, orange.

3 ,, deep purple.

4 ,, lake.

5 ,, dark brown.

Envelope.
t.\ annas, blue laid paper

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

163

British South Africa. -The present
troubles in Mashonaland are likely to
leave their mark on the postal issues of
the country, for Mr. H. W. Garbutt writes
to us by the last mail that " an entirely
full set of Cape stamps are expected very
shortly surcharged for use here, as the
present stock is running short, and com-
munication is closed with Salisbury, where
the reserve stock is held."

Mr. Garbutt also sends us two new sur-
charges— Id. on 3d., and Id. on 4s. The
stamps surcharged are of the first issue of
British South Africa. The surcharge is
in black, and measures 16mm. The sur-
charge is " One Penny" in capitals and
tall small letters. The original value is
obliterated by three bars close together.
Oar Correspondent informs us that there
are only 20 sheets = 1200, and that the
Company will not sell more than six to
one person. The first sheet had four
errors, the "y" of "Penny" being in-
verted. At the time of writing these
stamps were being used for fiscal pur-
poses only ; but as all British South Africa
stamps are available for both postage and
revenue, we presume this surcharge will
also be available for postage if required.
We shall be glad to hear from our Cor-
respondent whether this is so, and if they
have been so used postally.
Adhesive.

id. on 3d., green and grey, black sur.
id. on 4s., red and slate. ,, ,,

Cape of Good Hope. — W« are

indebted to Mr. Herman Guest for a
copy of the Is. value in a new colour —
yellow in place of green. We have also
just received the 2 \ in its new colour
of blue in place of sea green. These
changes are evidently in consequence of
the arrangement between the Cape and
Transvaal authorities for uniformity of
colours, but the Cape stamps are not
bi-coloured like the Transvaal. Wmk.
Cabled Anchor ; perf. 14.

Adhesives.

•->.'■ blue. 1^. yellow.

Cook Islands. —A correspondent
writes to the Philatelic World as
follows : —

You may be interested to hear that there
will probably be another change shortly. The
reason there may be another issue is that the
Secretary of State for the Colonies has inti-
mated that as there is a British Protectorate
over the Island, the use of a portrait of the
native Queen on the stamps cannot be allowed.

France— Madagascar— The Mon thly
Jouma I has received a set of the current
stamps, as given below, surcharged

' ' POSTE — FR AXCAISE — MADAGASCAR ' ' in

three lines, for use in that island. The
same journal states that the French
Colonial issues of Diego Suarez, Nossi-Be,
and St. Marie de Madagascar are to be
abolished, and one series used for the
whole island.

A dhesivcs.
5c, green ; red surcharge.

ioc, black on lilac ; red surcharge.

15c, blue ,, ,,

25c, black on rose ,, ,,

40c, red ; black surcharge.

50c, carmine ; ,,

75c, black on yellow ; red surcharge.
1 franc, bronze-green ; black ,,
5 francs. lilac ., ,,

German East Africa. -Anew series
has been issued, surcharged as per illus-
tration.

The surcharge is in black.

. Idhesives.

2 pesa on 3 pf., brown.

; .. ., 5 pf.. green.

5 ,, ,, 10 pf., carmine.
10 ,, ,, 20 pf., blue.
25 ,, ,, 50 pf., red-brown.

Post Cards.
I pesa on 5 pf. , on green.
I ■+■ 3 " M 5 + S pf-. green (reply).

5 ,, ., to pf. , tannine.
S + 5 ,, ,, 10 + 10 pf. , carmine (reply).

Grenada. — In our January number
(p. 17) we chronicled and illustrated the

new series. That list commenced with
the 2M. Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
now send us the Id. value printed in
lilac with name and colour in carmine.

. Idhesive.

id. lilac and carmine.

New South Wales.— The publisher
of the Australian Philatelist has dis-
covered a copy of the 9d. with double
surcharge, the second surcharge being
an indistinct bluish black, placed imme-
diately above the other, which is in the
usual black ink. The copy is used.
Adhesive.
od. black and bluish black on brown.

Norway.— We have been shown the
1 sk. of 187'2-o with a very clear full stop
between the two E s of " Een skilling.,,

Adhesive.

1872-5.
1 skilling, green, variety.

164

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Paraguay. — Messrs. Whitfield King
and Co. inform us that the oc. stamps
having run out, 60,000 provisionals have
been made by surcharging the 2c. and 4c.
telegraph stamps. The specimens sent
are surcharged with a large fancy figure
" 5 " enclosed in a double-lined circle
measuring llfmm. in diameter, and
enclosed in another double-lined circle
measuring 22mm. in diameter. Between
the two circles are ' ' Correos ' ' in block
letters in the upper part and " centavos "
in block letters in the lower part.

Adhesives.

5c. on 2C. brown, black sur.
5c. on 4c. yellow, ,, ,,

Si am. — We have heard of stamps sur-
charged on the gummed side in error ;
one such notable variety is the Transvaal
3d. red surcharge, but it has been reserved
for Siam to surcharge both sides. Mr.
Hadlow's catalogue of sale of June 18th
included a block of six of the 2 atts or
64 atts, " surcharged on back as well as
face."

Adhesives.
2 atts on 64 atts, sur. in black on face and back.

Tonga. — Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
have recently received a letter from Tonga
stating that there are no stamps in the
island except 2^d. ones, that some of
these were surcharged locally for use as
\r\. stamps, but that the postmaster
refused to issue them, lest they should be
bought up by speculators, which would
leave them worse off for stamps than
before. Pending the arrival of the new
stamps from London, newspapers and
printed matter have to be prepaid in cash
and stamped with the Tonga Government
frank, which has hitherto been used only
for official correspondence.

Transvaal. — We are indebted to
Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. for two
more stamps of the bi-coloured series with
labels of value in green — 2^d. blue, and
2s 6d. lilac. In the 2s. 6d. the value is
expressed as " 2 sh. 6 Pence."

We have also the postcard with id.
stamp of the current design in green on
buff.

A dhesiz'es.

2nd., blue, value in green.
2S. 6d., lilac, value in green.

Postcard.
id., green on buff.

Zanzi bar. — Our publishers have shown
us two fresh surcharges — " 2£ " on the
Indian 1 anna stamp. The surcharge is
in black. The principal figure " 2 "
measures 4mm. in height and exists in
two varieties, one having a straight foot,
and the other a curved foot. On another
page we publish an interesting letter from
the Postmaster- General as to these pro-
visional issues. In that letter he speaks
of "2^ ans. surcharged on \\ ans stamp."
Evidently this is a further supply for
which the 1 anna has been made to do
duty.

A dhesives.
Figure 2 with curved foot.

i\ on 1 anna, brovvn; sur. black.

Figure 2 with straight foot.

2^ on 1 anna, brown ; sur. black.

The Timbre Poste says the error
"Zanzidar" exists on the 6th stamp of
the 4th row on the sheets, in the first
printing of the £, 1, 1^, 2, 2^, 3, 4, 6. 8,
and 12 annas, and 1 rupee. This error
is stated to have been corrected in a
second edition. All these values also
show the varieties of the small " z,"
and the 3rd stamp in the last row but
one of the 2, 3, and 5 rupees has the
letter " r " in the name inverted.

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No 1, price one shilling (postage extra).

The June packet contains five varieties,
all unused, viz. : British East Africa Pro-
tectorate (new type) ^a., la., 2a., and
2ia., &c.

No. 2, price five shillings (postage extra).

The June packet contains six varieties,
all unused, viz. British East Africa Pro-
tectorate (new type) 4a., 4^a., oa., 7-^a.,
and 8a., &c.

These packets are on sale from June 25th
to July "24th (unless the supply is previously
exhausted), and are supplied only to Subscribers
to the "Philatelic Recokd and Stamp News."
Similar packets will he on sale every month,
and may he subscribed for in advance for the
year (January to December inclusive), at the
following rates : — No. 1 packet (sent by book
post with the paper), 12s., post-free (if by letter
post the postage is Is. extra Inland ; 2s. 6d.
Abroad). No. 2 packet (by letter post), Inland
61s., Abroad 6'2s. 6d., post-free.

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum)
is extra.— Buhl & Co. Limited, 11, Queen
Victoria Street, E-C.

-S~^-4-

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

165

philately in the S)TaSs'

Philately on the Continent.

The second portion of Mr. C. J.
Phillips' contribution to the Monthly
Journal on his recent European trip
covers Eussia and Finland and the
Scandinavian countries. It is delightful
reading, both from the philatelist's and
the traveller's point of view. His snap
shots at the scenery by the way
are admirable. There is no laborious
verbosity. It is a simple record, and
is therefore all the more enjoyable. The
difficulty in such a choice of extracts,
as are possible, is where to begin with
the scissors. Fortunate as ever, even
on the Russian frontier, in the stern
inquisitive Customs official he met a
friend. When his baggage was opened
and four albums of Russian locals put
rather a serious face on matters, the
Customs official turned out to be a
stamp collector— not only that, he
" knew our firm."

THE BREITFUSS COLLECTION'.

In this (St. Petersburg) city there is a strong
branch of the Dresden Philatelic Society, which
meets on the first and third Wednesday (Russian
style) of each month at the " Restaurant
Leinner." This section is presided over by
Mr. F. Breitfuss, who is so well and deservedly
known as one of the first philatelists of the day.
Mr. Breitfuss has been a client of ours for over
twenty-four years, and looking over his won-
derful collection, and comparing some of the
prices of things bought from us. and from
Pemberton Wilson & Co., with their present
values, made me quite sad. Nevis, 4d.. orange,
engraved, sheet of 12 uncut, bought for 9s., and
other sheets at similar figures, will show a fair
margin of profit at present prices. The Breitfuss
collection is contained in over 100 volumes, but
time did not allow me to see one -fourth of it,
much to my regret.

At Helsingfors, from his bedroom
window, he looked out upon a sea of
solid ice, as far as the eye could reach,
and numerous steamers were frozen in,
set fast for four or six months. But the
most notable thing he found in the
Finnish capital was its Philatelic Society.

A NOVEL PHILATELIC SOCIETY.

Helsingfors, although a town of only some
70,000 inhabitants, is quite a philatelic centre,
and has a capital Society, with about sixty
members This was founded in January, 1893,
and its rules and objects have had to be approved
by the Senate of Finland. Amongst other
things, the members are responsible one for
another, and if, perchance, one member should
not pay for stamps bought, the others would be

all liable for the debt. The Helsingfors Society
has published a very interesting catalogue of
" The Stamps of Finland," illustrated with a
full-plate photographic reproductionof the types,
I have secured the right to use this list, which
is most complete, in the next edition of our
catalogue.

Of course he was bound to turn
up that German catalogue again some-
where, and curiously enough it turns up
at Helsingfors, after passing safely
through Senfland at Leipzig. But let
him tell his own story in his own enjoy-
able way : —

THAT GERMAN CATALOGUE AGAIN.

At Helsingfors I had a striking proof of the
great value of a well-known German catalogue
as a standard for purchasing by. I was dining
with a collector there, and looking through his
nice collection of unused stamps, in which 1
much coveted some scarce varieties, I asked my
friend if he would sell. " Oh, no," he replied,
'• they arc in my collection, and I don't care to
take them out " Liter on, noticing he had the
current Senf c italogue, I said, by way of a final
effort, " What should you say if I offered you
twice or three times the Senf catalogue price
for those pieces I waut P" " Why, take it at
once," he said ; and so he did, and I bought
things to the value of -20lK) mirks, on which L
really do not think I shall make a very great

loss!'::

At Stockholm he found the stamps of
Scandinavia were first favourities. As
the result of seeing some fine collections,
especially Swedish, he makes the follow-
ing notes : —

SWEDISH FOE Sl'ECIALISTS.

The 1855 issue (value in sk.-bco.) are col-
lected on thick and on thin paper, except the
3 sk-bco„ which is not found on the thick
paper.

The 1872 issue (our Catalogue. Nos. 18 to 81)
are found both perf. 14 and perf. 18, and this
also applies to the Unpaid Letter stamps.
" Losen," and to the long official stamps.

I saw a grand specimen of the official stamp,
1 krona, blue and brown, undoubtedly imper-
forate, and properly used. The margins on all
four sides were extremely wide, being 4 mm.
all round.

It is surprising to me to find how many
varieties (Scandinavian) exist that I had never
heard of before. Many of these I shall list in
the next edition of our catalogue, others I shall
reserve until I have been able to lay in good
stock of them !

That last sentence! Think of it!
Got to wait till he lays in a stock of
them ! Ah, well, it's human nature, we
suppose, and we all do it ! The old

i66

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Adam is a component part of every
philatelist !

MR. C. J. PHILLIPS IN A NEW CHARACTER.

At Copenhagen there was a surprise
in store for him — a very great surprise.
Again let him tell his own story : —

I can safely say that I am not often compli-
mented upon the clienpncss of my best stamps,
but in Copenhagen I was so, seriously, by tbe
two principal collectors, who had been used to
such high local rates that my best endeavours
seemed mild in comparison.

"Not often complimented," and his
" best endeavours," are charming. We
have seen a few of the " best endeavours,"
and if they can be beaten in Copenhagen
we must be silently thankful for such
mercies as we are permitted to enjoy.

Mr. Jeppe on Transvaals.

The London Philatelist has for some
months past been publishing a series of
papers on the stamps of the Transvaal by
Mr.. R. Pearce. These have drawn a
reply from Mr. Jeppe, which is given in
the May number. A special interest
attaches to Mr. Jeppe' s comments for the
very good reason that he was the first
Postmaster-General of the Transvaal
Republic, and we therefore quote in
extenso what he has to say, reserving
our comments for our ' ' Stray Notes on
Transvaals," on another page. Mr.
Jeppe, whose letter was dated 13th April
last, writes from Pretoria, South African
Republic, as follows : —

When Mr. Tamsen took the trouble of col-
lecting all the information regarding the stamps
of this Republic, and succeeded in obtaining
and publishing, with great patience and intel-
ligence, all the knowledge about the old stamps
of the Transvaal that could be of value to the
Philatelic world, I was under the impression
that the subject was pretty well exhausted,
that all doubts were set at rest, and that the
mystery which involved some of the early
issues was cleared up for good. But it seems,
from a paper published in your periodical for
February last, by Mr. R. Pearce, which was
sent to Mr. van Alphen, the present Postmaster-
General, and kindly given me for perusal, that
I was very much mistaken; that, instead of
the subject being thrashed out, there is still
corn in Egypt, which has to go through the
mill of public discussion, to be sifted into
different sorts like flour.

I am not a '• Philatelist," and therefore fail
to see the use of* raising a controversy about the
quality of the paper on which the old issues
were printed, or the shade of their colours, for
the simple reason that, perhaps, only one in a
thousand would be able to obtain a complete set
of all the qualities and shades refeired to. This
ignorance on my part will very likely be much
deplored by all real Philatelists, but as I take a
great interest in Philately, owing to my former

connection with the Post-office of this country,
having been, as Mr. Tamsen observes, the origi-
nator of the postal service of this country, and
its postage stamps, I crave permission to say a
few words in reply to Mr. Pearce's interesting
paper, especially as he has used my name rather
freely, and has both expressed and implied a
great deal of blame on some of my actions as
former Postmaster-General of this Republic.

Mr. Pearce attributes the want of popularity
of the Transvaal stamps among collectors to the
sale of the notorious Mecklenburg bogus stamps
and forgeries, and later on, in his paper, he says
that I committed a most unfortunate blunder in
allowing the engraver in Germany to sell stamps
to dealers in Europe who had applied to me for
supplies. I admit candidly that this was a
great blunder, committed in the hurry of the
moment ; but it must be borne in mind that my
permission given to Otto was limited to orders
received for the 3d. value only, and not for the
first three values, and that as soon as I was in-
formed that Otto had sold beyond the authorised
amount, and also stamps of other values, my
authority was withdrawn at once on penalty of
proceedings being taken against him in a court
of law. When he, nevertheless, continued in
his illegal sales, I published advertisements in
English and German papers, warning the public
against the purchase of unauthorised stamps,
and engaged an advocate at Gustrow to proceed
against Otto. The lawyer reported that, ac-
cording to German law, I had no case against
him for reasons too numerous to be stated
here.

I must mention here in parenthesis that I
knew Otto personally, having made his ac-
quaintance in Paris in 1856, and that I had no
reason to doubt his honesty and integrity when
my brother, who then lived close to Gustrow,
engaged his services as an engraver to furnish
the plates according to the design supplied by
me. Unfortunately my brother left Germany
and came out here in July, 1870 ; and after his
departure there was no 'proper supervision
over Otto with regard to the illicit sale of
stamps.

There is no question in my mind that when
Otto delivered the first plates for the Id., (id.,
and Is. values he kept duplicates, from which
he printed and sold the quantities that flooded
Europe. Was it my fault when — in spite of
my warning, and the fact that the Mecklenburg
bogus stamps were bought by the public in all
colours, rouletted and unrouletted, defaced and
undefaced, according to orders, at 50 per cent,
and more below face value from the principal
dealers on the continent ? — even as late as 1886
these bastard issues were offered to the public
at the above-mentioned reduction. If I had
remained in office I would have taken further
steps to prevent this swindle being carried on,
but my successors in office after April, 1875,
did not consider it worth while to trouble
about the matter, although I brought it
repeatedly to their notice. When the coun-
try was annexed by the British Govern-
ment in April, 1877, the postal authorities
considered that the surcharge of the letters
' Y.R. Transvaal ' and the subsequent new
issue with the Queen's head was sufficient

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

167

protection, but they forgot that it was very
easy for Mr. Otto, or anybody else, to imitate
the surcharge. There is no doubt that it was
done, for a well-known firm in Leipsic adver-
tised these values so far below face value that
everybody must have seen at once that they
were forgeries ? Even new values, which did
not exist here at all, such as a 6d. brown " On
Service" (" Dienst Ilarke," as a German
collector called it), was made and palmed off
on the public. Was I to blame when people
allowed themselves to be defrauded with open
eyes by Otto and a set of unscrupulous
swindlers ?

The adoption of postage stamps by the S A.
Eepublic was proposed by me to the Govern-
ment and resolved upon, long before the
individual referred to by Mr. Pearce had
written to me on the subject. The original
colours had reference to the colours of the
national flag, but white could not be used ; the
colours of the first three values were fixed as
red, blue, and green, and the colour of the 3d.
was chosen afterwards and approved by Law
No. 7, 1873, Act 81. All the later colours
of £d., 4d., 2s., etc., issued by the British
Government and the second Republic were
never stipulated by any later law.

I naturally copied the design of the coat of
arms, which was furnished by me and approved
by the Yolksraad 30th Sept., 18G7, according
to the rather vague stipulations of the
11 grondeact" of 1858. With regard to the
manufacture of the stamps and the payments,
everything was left to me, and whatever I did
was approved by Government. The first issue
was contemplated for the 1st January, 1870,
but as the press and paper did not arrive before
February, the issue was postponed to 1st May
by a Government notice, dated lith April,
1870. The date published by Mr. Tamsen
(14th May) was an error copied by Mr. Pearce,
and therefore the latter's remarks, based on an
error perpetrated by the printer of Mr. Tamsen's
paper, are out of place.

With regard to the 3d. stamp, I do not know-
that Otto kept a duplicate of the original matrix,
as stated by Mr. Pearce, but it may be that he
did, or kept a duplicate of the plates from which
he sold afterwards, not presumably as insinuated
by Mr. Pearce, but most undoubtedly, and
quite positively, without any authority; i.e.,
beyond certain small quantities authorised by
me. It may be also that he did not keep a
duplicate of the plates, but printed off a large
quantity for his own use before the plates were
delivered to my agent and forwarded. At all
events, no plate for the 3d. value, or stamps of
this value, were found in his possession when
the Od. plates were taken from him. In such
a case the stamps sold by him may be called by
any other name but forgeries, as they were
printed from the original plates.

Being informed that the illicit sale of stamps
was still carried on in Germany, I instructed
my agent to enter his office, and demand
delivery of the plates for the 6d. value (im-
proved eagle), in June, 1882. Besides the
plates, he found still about 800 sheets of Gd.
stamps, of which about the half were ungummed
and unperforated, and the other half gummed

and rouletted. These plates and stamps were
not destroyed, but placed in the Rostock Bank
under safe custody, where they remained until
the beginning of 1894, when they were for-
warded to here, and delivered to Government.
The plates were, on their arrival, in March, '94-,
placed in the Treasury vaults, and the stamps
destroyed. It is strange that all these b'd.
stamps were not of the last improved eagle, but
of the old owl type. At the first glance, they
appear the same as the first lot printed in Gei -
many ; but on closer inspection, the difference
in the eagle's eye and the flagstaff, mentioned
by Mr. Tamsen and Mr. Pearce, becomes
apparent. (Specimen encl.) I found that the
rouletted and gummed were rouletted 20 on the
sides, and 17j on top and bottom.

Regarding the question put by Mr. Pearce,
whether the first stamps printed in Germany
should be recognised as an official issue, I do
not see why they should not. I was autho-
rised by Government to sell these stamps to
dealers, who had applied for them, in order to
pay for the plates, and on this account they
must be considered of the same value as stamps
supplied from here later on. The only objection
that may be raised against them is, that they
were supplied before the first issue of May,
1870 ; but I know from experience, and could
quote, several cases in which stamps were
supplied to dealers before they were issued to
dealers before they were issued by the Post-
office.

As far as I can remember, the Id. stamps
printed by Borius were all printed in black.
The scarcity of the black stamps, advanced by
Mr. Tamsen, may be accounted for by the
fact that, from the very first lot printed in
September, '70, 6000, to the value of £27 10s.,
were sent to a well-known dealer in Plymouth,
which never came into circulation, as they were
destroyed in a fire that took place in the dealer's
house. With regard to the law stipulating
that the penny stamps should be printed in
red, this had to be set aside very often, as the
stocks of colour ran out. The 3d. value was
printed in a variety of colours but the legal one,
and the Id. was printed again in black from
1883 to 1885, as Mr. Tamsen has shown in his
paper.

In conclusion, I would like to say a few-
words with l-egai'd to the new issue now being
given out, as a great deal of misunderstanding
exists about it. A writer of articles on Philately
in the Durban Advertiser told his readers that
the Transvaal Government contemplated the
issue of a new series in design and colour,
which he considered wholly unnecessary.
There was no intention of altering the design,
the colours only being altered in accordance
wHh an agreement entered into with the Cape
Colony to adopt henceforth the same colours
for the same values. This alteration was pro-
posed by the local postal authorities to all the
South African States for the benefit of the ser-
vice and the public. Natal has declined to
join the movement for the present, for reasons
of its own ; and the Orange Free State is de-
barred from adopting the new colours proposed
on account of a resolution of the Yolksraad of

i68

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

the 7th July, 1894, in which the colours of the
different values were defined for good. At
present the colours of the values in the South
African States are as follows: —

8%£

.3 ~ bfl

II 21

rt 2

* J

3 : ^ : A :
sfr S .3 £ £ 8

6/3

T3 rO £

t) -o -o -a

o V

For the ^d, and Id. post cards the same
colours are adopted as for the adhesives ; i.e.,
green arid rose. With regard to the Transvaal,
the words indicating the values J Penny,
1 Penny, &c, are printed in green, independent
of the new colours adopted. Up to date only
the ^d., Id., and Is. were issued (specimen
attached) ; the other values will follow as soon
as the old stocks are exhausted.

With regard to the Jubilee Id., issued to
commemorate the first penny postage in the
Transvaal, I should like to know the reason
whv this stamp should he rejected hy the
S.S S-.S. It was issued for a legitimate pur-
pose, was never a speculative stamp, and is
still in use like the penny of the regular series.
I enclose a specimen with the date stamp —
Johannesburg, 10th April, 1898.

I shall he glad to see the second part of
Mr. Pearce's paper on the Transvaal stamps,
after the perusal of which I shall, perhaps, have
something more to say.

" Find " of Rare British Guianas.

There has been another find of these very
rare stamps. Particulars of the find are
given in the following letter from Mr.
Edward C. Luard, published in the Lon-
don Philatelist : —

Demerara. llth April, 1896.

Dear Sik, — I think it may possibly interest
you to know that an unsevered pair of the 1851
2c. rose circular stamps of British Guiana have
just turned up. The last discovered were in
1889, and, since then, up to last week, I have
hunted in every likely and unlikely place, in
the hope of finding more. The pair in question
belonged to an old lady, who handed them over
to the Rector of Christ Church, Georgetown, as
an " Easter offering," and refused to take any
money for them. The Reverend Rector, how-
ever, promptly turned them into cash, and they
are now my property. They are in excellent
preservation, and the colour very well preserved.
There is a little gum disfiguring one of them,
however, which I suppose could easily be re-
moved Since this find the old lady has been
besieged, but alas ! has no more. — I remain,
dear Sir, yours truly, Edward C. Luard.

Accompanying this letter was a photo -
graph of the stamps referred to, and Mr.
Castle says : —

As shewn by the photograph kindly sent by
our correspondent, the " august " pair is in good
preservation, and, placed horizontally upon the
letter, present the whole of the design, although,
as is almost, if not absolutely, universally the
case with this stamp, they have the outer edges
of the paper cut away ch,se to the design. The
obliteration " carries " on to the letter, which is
postmarked 3 (?) 5, 1851, within parallel circles
containing the name of the town (illegible,
though probably Demerara), and the envelope
is addressed " Miss Rose, Blankenberg."

The following further details of this
" find " of rare British Guianas is supplied
to the Church Times by Peter Lombard : —

In another column a passing reference is made
to the sale of old postage stamps on behalf of
Christ Church, Georgetown. The local parish
magazine gives fuller details of this interesting
collection, which is somewhat out of the com-
mon. It seems there was a good and urgent
reason for the collection of a big sum last Easter,
and the result of the special efforts and prayers
resulted as follows : —
Three used Postage Stamps sold for $1,038 60

Fifteen $5 Notes 75 00

Two Cheques ,.. 44 00

Gold 7 20

Silver 197 12

Copper 34 63

Value of Plants sold (Parsonage)... 4 08

$1,400 63
A few particulars about the stamps will
be interesting to the philatelists among
my readers : —

One stamp was a blue (4 cents) stamp of 1853,
for which $33 60 was received, and when, on

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

i6g

Easter Monday, the incumbent went to thank
the kind donor, the incumbent naturally inquired
whether she had made a careful search, and she
replied in the affirmative ; but as the incumbent
is of a persevering temperament, he was allowed
to make a search for himself, and lo ! and behold
whilst thoy were searching, an old envelope
tumbled forth, and it had two stamps, 2c. circular
rose of 1851,. with the Post-Master's initials
thereon — and the lady, knowing fully well its
value, presented the same as her Easter offering,
and conld not be persuaded to receive a tithe —
" not a penny, sir, these stamps were reserved
for my dear old church," and she gave them
willingly and cheerfully. These two stamps
were sold for $1,005. Had they been able to
wait they might, of course, have received more.

India, 1a. Red, First Issue, Varieties,

Writing to the Stamp Collectors' Fort-
nightly on varieties of type in the India,
one anna red, of the first issue, Mr.
Douglas Garth says : —

You suggest, in your article, " Minor Varieties
of British and Colonial Stamps," in to-day's
issue of the Fortnightly, that the eight varieties
of type of the 1 anna red, first issue, of India,
are worthy of collection in the same manner as
the types ofthe 4 and G rappen, Swiss. May I,
before your readers begin to search for these
types, venture to question whether any such
varieties are to be found ?

It is true that there was (and it is, I believe,
still preserved in the Calcutta Mint— the Post
Office have no records) a copper plate, on which
were engraved eight types of the one anna value,
Xos. 1 to 7, on which Nos. 2 to 8 (as they appear
reversed on the proof impressions) had the bust
pointed, but transfers were not taken from the
entire plate, one type (or at the most two)
having been used.

Both proofs and reprints taken from the
original plates are fairly common, and these,
of course, show the varieties of type which you
mention, but the stamps issued to the public
will be found to be of two types only, namely,
the round and pointed bust ; and the late Mr.
Tapling, after much research, propounded the
theory, which has been supported by Colonel
Waterhouse, head of the lithographic depart-
ment in Calcutta, that of these two types, one
was only a retouch of /the other, and that, in fact,
only one of the original dies (either Xo. 1 or
No. 8) was ever used as a matrix.

And in the course of a further letter,
Mr. Garth writes : —

The theory that I have maintained is that the
engraver cut eight dies on the copper plate,
intending probably that they should each be used
in succession, but, that as a matter of fact, only
one of such dies was ever employed, and this
was touched up when worn, instead of using
another as is intended by the engraver ; the
reason for this being that forgeries were in
circulation, and the authorities thought it of
extreme importance to adhere to the same die.
It would of course upset this theory were two
specimens known, " se tenant " one a rounded
and one a pointed bust, but this I never saw.

Mexican Porte de Mar Stamps.

Filateh'c Fads and Fancies gives what
it calls a free translation from. '' Grosses
Handbuch der Philatelia," just published,
of some interesting particulars concerning
the " Porte de Mar " stamps of Mexico : — ■

It is indeed queer that the simple translation
and meaning of the words Porte de Mar seem
to have created enormous difficulties in the
philatelic world, some catalogues translating
them " seaport stamps,'' as if sur-h places had
need for stamps for them alone. The Mexican
post-office department distinguished two sche-
dules of postage, the Porte de Tierra, inland
postage, and the Porte de Mar, sea postage.
About the use of the stamps, which are wrongly
accepted by a good many authorities as some
kind of postage-due stamps for incoming letters
on which the postage had not sufficiently been
paid, the following is said in the official order
issued by the Directorio para las oficinas del
servicio publico de correos : —

"While the English and French post steamers
heretofore have carried the Mexican mail in
consideration of a certain fixed amount, in the
beginning of 1875 the directors of the English
lines declared that according to higher orders
they had to insist upon the payment of the sea
postage (Porte de Mar) for every single piece of
mail matter. The same declaration was soon
afterwards made by the French agents."

In consequence, on all mail matter to be
carried by English and French post steamers to
Europe or other American states, a fee had to
be levied outside of the ordinary Mexican
inland postage, and this fee should not be paid
by affixing the ordinary stamps. In the begin-
ning no stamps at all were issued for this ad-
ditional fee. But this way of doing business
placed the postage clerk in the interior in a
peculiar position towards the public, as the
latter could not conceive that more postage had
to be paid than stamps were affixed, and besides
the accounting in Vera Cruz was made quite
hard by the different marking of the letters.
Therefore, by a decree of May 12, 1875, certain
kinds of stamps for the payment of such sea
postage were created. These stamps are called
in the official circular Contrasenas, or accounting
stamps. A special account had to be kept about
these stamps which were affixed by the inland
office on letters before shipping them through
the sea post. Generally the stamps were placed
on the back of the letters.

Private Posts in Berlin.

The Berlin Correspondent of the Monthly
Journal has an interesting note on the
private postal arrangements in Berlin,
He says :—

Our private letter-carrying institutions have
provided the public with two new kinds of letter
boxes, some striped with black, white, and red,
and others striped with yellow and green of a
very sickly appearance. The boxes are intended
for express letters to be delivered within an hour
for five farthings, by carriers riding on cycles.
Herr von Stephan and his staff are watching the
progress of these private undertakings, and

170

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

would like to strike a blow at these competitors,
who take away a good deal of custom from the
post-office. The only private post existing in
Berlin in 1893 carried 26 k millions of letters,
15^ millions of cards, and 13| millions of book-
post matter. Since that time we have got two
more companies, and all of them satisfy the
public by prompt delivery at cheap rates.

The Austrian Mercury Question.

The Austrian Mercury Stamp ques-
tion remains unsettled. The Berlin Cor-
respondent of the Monthly Journal tells
us that the official experts at the Court of
Vienna declared that they had no reason to
doubt the authenticity of the stamps sold
by Mr. Friedl, and that the experts of the
Vienna Club have not given any precise
explanation why they deem the stamps to
be forgeries. The Correspondent himself
has no doubt on the point. He says : —

There is, however, little doubt now that the
Friedl stamps are forgeries of a most dangerous
character. It has not been found possible as
yet to ascertain how the original plates were
made, but it seems very likely that they were
composed of stereotyped casts, taken from an
engraving on wood, and that the casts were
afterwards retouched so as to produce the second
type with horizontal bar to the " G." The Friedl
stamps seem to have been done by lithography
from a deeply etched stone (like the native
stamps of Trinidad), which gives impressions
similar to typographic printing. While of the
original stamps in the second type r.o two are
exactly alike, owing to the separate retouching
of each cast, the Friedl stamps show special
marks, which exist in every stamp, and which
cannot be found in the original stamps.

The Olympian Stamps.
We are not a little surprised to find
Mr. Castle among the apologists for the
Olympians. In the May London Phil-
atelist, writing evidently on insufficient
data, he says : —

It has now, however, transpired that the
conditions of the existence of this celebration
issue are somewhat different from others, whose
issue has been so limited, either in number or
duration, as to play into the hands of Philatelic
speculators. We are credibly informed that
the Olympian series will be in use for many
months, and hence be procurable by every
collector, without any difficulty or enhance-
ment of price. It is also stated that they will
always be available for postage, and may even
possibly supersede the head of Mercury stamps
as a permanent issue. It is hence obvious that
these, or any one of these statements, will
weigh with the Committee of the S.S.S.S. in

any future consideration of the real Philatelic
status of this Olympian series.

If Mr. Castle will produce his evidence
that ' ' they will always be available for
postage " he will certainly put a different
complexion on the business and establish
their right to recognition ; but the avail-
able evidence seems to point in an opposite
direction.

Meanwhile, in his own words : —

We would earnestly counsel all those who
have the real future interests of Philately at
heart, to exercise all precaution, before they
traverse any of the decisions given by the Com-
mittee of the S.S S.S., which has so far per-
formed such signal service.

The learned editor of the Monthly
Circular writes : — ■

The Olympic games are over, but lest we
should forget them, the legacy of a series of
postage stamps, varying in value from 1 lepton
to 10 drachmas, has been left us, of which we
are to have the benefit till October next. This
will be quite long enough, for we do not think
that the series will be a popular one, nor that it
will require any anathemas of the S.S.S.S, to
inter it. One reason against its longevity is,
that though the small values of 1, 2, 5 and 10
lepta are of the ordinary size, yet all the rest
are of Columbian dimensions either in length or
height ; another is, that the designs will pro-
bably find scant favour ; while a third is, that
though the stamps are engraved by M. Mouchon,
the clever Paris artist, and manufactured at the
Paris Stamp Manufactory, yet they are what
may be termed slop-work, which that establish-
ment is quite capable of turning out as collec-
tors of Djibouti stamps know to their cost.
Our Brussels contemporary declares that some
of the designs would make a gendarme blush.

British East Africa.

Messrs. Alfred Smith & Co., in a
business note in their Monthly Circular
for June, write : —

With regard to the obsolete British East
Africa stamps it is stated in the London
Society's book that in the first printings the
outer edges of the outside fines of the stamps
on the sheets were not perforated, but that this
omission was rectified in the later printings.
We think this is hardly correct, as it is to be
presumed that the remainder now offered are
taken from the latest printings. We have had
these stamps, in our last supply, in entire
sheets of 60, and the following values are
imperf. at the edges of the sheets : 1, 2, 4 and
8 annas, and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 rupees. In these
values 28 out of every 60 stamps are imperf.
on one or two sides.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

171

philatelic Qossiyp.

Major Evans and the "Record."

There is a bit of history in an editorial
note in the May number of the Monthly
Journal which must not be overlooked.
In a paragraph in the Daily Stamp Item
on the recent change in the editorship of
The Philatelic Record, the information is
added that "Major E. B. Evans, who has
served as Editor since 1885, retires."
Commenting on this, Major Evans
writes: —

As a matter of fact, Major Evans cannot
boast of having ever been Editor of The
Philatelic Record for more than six months at a
time, and then only in a kind of stop-gap
capacity ; that journal afforded space for some
of his earliest philatelic efforts, and he is proud
of his connection with it, but from 1885 — 1895
(except for an interregnum of half a year) it
was in far abler hands.

American Philatelic Campaigning.
In America campaigning for the office
of President in one of the various phila-
telic associations seems to be quite as
serious a business as campaigning for
President of the Eepublic itself. Just
now the storm clouds are concentrated
on the election for President of the
" Philatelic Sons of America," called for
brevity the P.S.A., and freely translated
by one combatant into " Prevaricating
Sons of Ananias." The present holder of
the office is denounced as a Dictator, a
Napoleon, and " a would-be -owner of the
P.S.A," others figure as " mud slingers,"
'•liars," etc. He must be a brave boy
who would voluntarily stand in the way
of such missiles.

Lithographed British Colonials.
We learn from the published minutes
in Filatelic Facts and Fancies of the 89th
meeting of the Pacific Philatelic Society,
held at San Francisco, that the Society on
the 21st April last —

Listened to an original article, by Mr. Weber,
on the " Emergency issue of lithographed
British Colonials,'' containing much new and
interesting information. He mentioned a long
list of stamps as being produced by lithography
that had not previously been catalogued as
such, his argument being that they had been
issued only in such small quantities, in response
to urgent calls for stamps, and where the con-
tractors did not have time to produce them from
engraved plates in the usual manner, as to have
heretofore escaped the notice of collectors.

We very much regret that we were
unable to attend that meeting !

Mr. E. S. Gibbons reminiscent.

Mr. E. Stanley Gibbons in the last
number of the Monthly Journal gives
himself up to a little reminiscence. He
writes : —

Turning over a few of the pages of my letter-
book, how extraordinary the quotations of that
year (1864) seem when compared with the cur-
rent. There I find myself selling Buenos Ayres,
1858, ship issue, brown and blue, without regard
to expressed value, at 2s. each. Then, again, I
had contrived through a friend, a purser in the
Boyal Mail Packets visiting the West Indies,
to purchase from the Trinidad and Barbados
Post Offices some of the early penny and four-
penny stamps, both perf. and imperf. These,
that would now fetch, in pairs or blocks, some
pounds sterling, I retailed at the time at the
magnificent price of 6d. and Is. each, irre-
spective of their marginal condition. I have a
very distinct remembrance, and there are many
others, no doubt, who can remember it also,
that perforations and watermarks were at this
period utterly disregarded, being looked upon as
distinctions unworthy of notice. Just about
this time I find I advanced my selling price of
the Id. bltce, Cape of Good Hope " error," of
which I had taken the precaution to corner a
few, to 5s. each, and a few pages further on an
offer of 9d. each for New South Wales, eight-
pence laureated, provided they are in good
condition, I might multiply these instances
ad infinitum, but think more would only weary
the reader. But these few figures only go to
show the enormous difference between current
prices and those of thirty years ago. Where
will it end ?

Nicaraguas postmarked to order.

The publisher of the Monthly Circular
says : —

Sets of Nicaragua, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893,
and 1894, are now on the market, "obliterees
de complaisance avec les cachets originaux dans
le pays." This means that the sets have been
selling so slowly lately that they have been sent
back to Nicaragua to be daubed over with post-
marks to make them more attractive to the
schoolboys.

Our advice would be to leave the
Seebeck countries severely alone, used or
unused. They can only be relied upon
for shoddy.

Speculators unloading.

Eef erring to the Id. rose Grenada
stamp, now obsolete, a correspondent
writes to the Monthly Circular : —

" The remaining stock was bought up by a

syndicate who will be offering them at 3d.

j each." The "slump " has soon set in, however,

172

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

for he adds, <; I have decided to withdraw from
the syndicate and to dispose of my lot of 6000
on my own responsibility. I am not wishful
of holding these stamps for a rise, hut will sell
at once my lot at 2d. each — i.e., £50 for the lot.
I hope you will see your way of taking them
over. I do not wish to split them up, and will
not'accept less."

" One hundred per cent.," remarks the
publisher of the Monthly Circular, " is a nice
little profit to make in a few days, but the £25
is not coming out of our pockets, and we hope
and believe that the disintegrated syndicate will
burn its fingers."

And so say all of us !

The Mekeels and the Cyclone.

We are very pleased to learn that the
Mekeel Stamp and Publishing Company
premises in St. Louis, U.S., escaped
damage from the terrible cyclone which
swept over that City on Wednesday, the
27th of last month (May). The Daily
Stamp Item of the 30th May, published
by the Mekeels, says : —

While the storm-swept section was remote
from the general offices of our publishers, the
terrific rumble of the cyclone could be heard
and the fierce clouds seen. Though great
excitement naturally prevailed, the corps of
clerks displayed great presence of mind, and in
accordance with the discipline of the office all
valuable assets were rapidly transferred to
their regular places of safety in the mammoth
vault and numerous fire-proof safes. The
moment this was accomplished the restraint of
order was dispelled and the fury of the elements
watched by those nerved to the scene of awful
magnificence, while others crouched in fear in
places considered the least dangerous in the
event of the building being demolished.

The lightning was blinding, accompanied by
deafening peals of thunder and a deluge of rain.
Several shocks were received by employes who
stood in the open air watching the clouds, but
accidents were fortunately escaped.

Another Philatelic Castle.

What! Another Philatelic Castle!
Even so, it seems. The great Republic,
now that boundary disputes and other
international questions are getting some-
what flat, has determined upon running
a philatelic Castle of its own. A pre-
sidential message, duly announcing the
fact, may be expected at any moment.
Meanwhile, the new Castellated com-
petitor, one Mr. W. A. Castle, type II.,
stars and stripes, has gone into training
by annexing a whole 10 cents. Balti-
more at a cost of somewhere about
£900. To show that our own genial
variety was forewarned, and is inclined to
make things lively, we may mention that
he forthwith ordered a hundred guinea
philatelic safe, which took a gang of
men several days to lift into Kingston
Lodge.

British Empire Postal Arrangements.

At the sittings of the third Congress
of Chambers of the Empire held in
London on Thursday, 11th June, 1896,
some attention was directed to inter-
colonial postal arrangements. We extract
from The Times report the following
affecting matters philatelic : —

Mr. Pi/ummer (Newcastle and Gateshead)
moved, " That, so far as p ^ssible. it is most
important that Inter-Imperial postal and tele-
graph routes should be established between this
country and the colonies, as well as between the
colonies themselves, without such routes passing
through other countries."

Mr. Coates (Ottawa) seconded the resolution,
Mr. Ross (New Zealand) supported it, and, after
observations from Mr. Washington Eves
(Jamaica), Mr. Wilson (Kendal), and Mr. E.
Trippe (Trinidad), it was carried unanimously.

Mr. T W. Dobson (Croydon) moved, " That
in view of the difficulties correspondents expe-
rience in prepaying closed replies to letters sent
to foreign countries, and especially the British
colonies and dependencies (a facility whbh
exists in regard to open uost-cards and tele-
grams), the Council of the London Chamber of
Commerce be requested, on behalf of this con-
gress, to communicate with the Imperial and
colonial postal authorities for the purpose of
recommending — («) That the reply letter-card
(used by France and Ceylon for inland corre-
spondence) be adopted by the British Imperial
1'ostal Service, as a means of facilitating and
increasing intercourse through the British Em-
pire ; (b) that the reply letter-card is applicable
to international communication in the same
way as the (.pen reply post-card, and that the
recent objections raised in regard to it can be
met ; (c) that at the Postal Union Congress, to
be held at Washington in 1897, the British and
Colonial Postmasters General be requested to
take steps for the extension of the reply letter-
card to international postage as an efficient sub-
stitute for the oft-proposed international postage
stamp, and less open to the objections raised on
the ground of the financial difficulty involved."

Mr. Patterson (Belfast) seconded the reso-
lution, which was agreed to,

American Bank Note Co. Proofs.

According to the Post Office (U.S.) the
secretary of the American Bank Note Co.
has caused it to be given out that no
more proofs of any stamps whatever will
be sold or given away by the company.
"This," adds the Post Office, will
naturally affect to some extent the value
of proofs which have been bought con-
siderably during recent years." We are
a little surprised at this revelation of the
extent to which the sale of proofs has
been carried. It seems rather strange
that the American Bank Note Co. should
feel itself at liberty to sell proofs off a
customer's plates. Surely it is not usual
with engravers generally. We know it
is not so with De La Rue or Waterlow and
Sons in this country.

CORRESPONDENCE.

173

(^orres^ondorice.

Gibraltar 1889 Issue.

25c. on 2d. brown violet.

It is some three years ago since I
pointed out to the members of the
Manchester Philatelic Society a discovery
I and another member (Mr. Abbott) had
then recently made of the existence of
two types of the figure 5 in each of the
values of this issue in which that figure
formed part of the surcharge.

The two types vary in the lobe of the
5 : in the first or common type, it is cut
off horizontally, making the curl straight
at the top ; and in the second type, the
upper stroke of the lobe is cut off at an
angle of 45°.

Type I. Type II.

The existence of these two types is
without doubt now known to most
collectors, although I don't remember
having seen any mention thereof in any
of the Magazines.

What causes me to refer to the matter
again is that recently I acquired a sheet
of these stamps and was thereby able to
see the arrangement of the two types,
which I must confess rather suprised me,
having expected to find the types more
equally divided.

The sheet consists of 120 stamps in
two panes of 00 each. The surcharges on
each pane are identical, from which I
conclude the sheets must have taken
twice putting under the surcharging
machine.

The stamps in the second vertical row
are all type II. , and the other stamps
on the sheet are all type I.

The 6d. stamp from the top in the
second vertical row is the well-known
variety short ' ' i," and the bottom stamp in
fifth vertical row is the other well-known
variety short " N ".

W. DORNING BeCKTOX.

Manchester.

Recent Transvaal Issues.

We have received the following letter
for publication : —

No 67, Gordon Avenue, Southampton,

June 8t/i, 1890.
Messrs. Stanley Gibbons, Ltd.,

391, Strand, London, W.C.
Gentlemen, — A friend in South Africa lias
sent me the March number of your monthly

journal, in which under the head of " Transvaal"
(page 157), you state tbat a letter signed by
the Assistant-Postmaster of Johannesburg had
been received by your publication which
" seems to be worthy of all possible publicity,
as it throws a light upon the why and where-
fore (as well as the present whereabouts) of
some of the varieties lately issued by the
llepublic ' ' ; the general impression thus con-
veyed to any reader being that the Transvaal
Government had issued speculative stamps,
and that I, in my official capacity, was instru-
mental in and party to the disposal of the
same, both of which statements are clearly
libellous. The same article would infer you
were exceedingly careful in watching philate-
lists' interests, and apparency their specially
appointed and constituted guardian •' stamp
angel," free, gratis, fur nothing, &c.

The libel on the Government of the S. A.
Republic is no concern of mine i/tt, but the
consequences likely to arise between the
Government of the S. A. llepublic and myself
from the publication of Libel Xo. '2 is a matter
which I shall hold the farm of Stanley
Gibbons k Co., to whom my letter was ad-
dressed, personally accountable and responsible
for.

A firm having such business capacity and
knowledge as yourselves, and having " pub-
lishers " also connected with the flourishing
house, should naturally be competent to dis-
tinguish the difference between the Asst. Post-
master writing officially (even if the publishers
thought it likely tbis official would remain
6,000 miles away) and W. E. Masters writing
under the distinguishing title of Asst. Post-
master parenthetically ! Yet the latter by a
"printer's error" seems accidentically or
purposely omitted, and the publication of the
letter accidentally or purposely inserted.

JNow as the management of the Stanley
Gibbons Monthly Journal attached such import-
ance to my (unofficial) letter to the firm, and
so far forgot or were ignorant of the elementary
ethics of journalism, it occurred to me that it
might dawn upon the publisher (in the interests
of the British stamp collecting public, whom
they have so unwittingly misled — those who
look to this journal for guidance on matters
philatelical) that it would be only lair and
instiuctive to publish in the same journal a
refutation of the libels contained in their March
issue, and place the public in a position to lorrn
their own opinion by having tiie other side of
the case lree from any vulgar "commercial
adulterations," possibly indicative of "sour
grapes."

Firstly, as regards your inference of " specu-
lative" stamps being issued by the S.A.R.,
allow me to state that the control of postage
stamps in the S.A.R. is vested in the Treasurer-
General, and not in the Postmaster-General The
latter would never have issued a provisional, as
he detests all temporary measures, and is far

i74

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

too good a superintendent to let his stock get
low; but the Treasurer-General, whose duties
are very manifold, has, I believe, through
overwork and staff illnesses (substitutes being
an unknown quantity) occasionally overlooked
tbis least important branch of his department,
hence the necessity of issuing provisionals ;
but where the element of speculation exists in
such issue, or in what way / am concerned, I
must really leave to the " commercial adultera-
tions" of your imaginative publisher, as it is
beyond me.

The issue of the Id. oblong, red commemo-
rative stamp was not a necessity, but neverthe-
less is entirely free from the stigma of being-
called speculative.

Any thoughtful person will, I judge, readily
concede there is such a thing as patriotism —
pure and unalloyed — even in such a country as
the South African Republic ; if not, he should
go there to experience it. The Volksraad (Par-
liament) of that country are nothing if not
patriots ; hence, when deciding that a uniform
penny postage should be introduced for the first
time, determined to celebrate the same by the
issue of a special jubilee stamp, and that the
first penny post should come into active opera-
tion on the Postmaster-General's birthday as a
token of honour to him for bringing the Postal
Department to be the finest worked branch in
the Government Service of that cmntry.

Circulars were issued throughout the country
that no other Id. stamp would be sold, or could
be bought at any post-office in the land during
the month, commencing on the 7th day of
September, and it was so well known that every
person determined to have one if he paid a big
price for it. No one believed in if s being issued
for speculative purposes then. Three days pre-
viously we anticipated a rush, and ordered very
largely, but could only get a small supply of
£1000, which was sold over the counter inside
of four hours. "Whatever postal clerk or other
official bought these stamps had to take his
chance with the public in buying : the result
was that they were sold within the next twenty-
four hours at 5s. to Is. 6d. each. Brokers' notes
were passed by the Johannesburg Stock Ex-
change members for thousands of them for
several days afterwards, the price gradually
receding to 6d. Where the element of specula-
tion exists in so far as concerns the Government
or the Postmaster- General I fail to see, and I
know more of the matter than you do ; but it
will, I presume, satisfy everyone as long as you
can see it. Of course, you know the stamp
merchants boycotted them ? and the why and
the wherefore also ? I can only conjecture !

And now as regards the 6d. "Postzegel"
(this seems to be, after all, the sore point) :
How it was that I managed to get quite a large
supply when you could get none.

Allow me to explain why and how they were
issued, and how I obtained my supply.

"When the stock of 6d. stamps became too
low for safety, a cable was sent to Holland to
despatch (per quickest means) a supply at once.
This supply would have been received in ample
time but for an accident — instead of being sent
from the coast by passenger train, it was, by a
railway blunder, sent per goods train, thereby
incurring a delay of ten days Doubtless your
publishers will say this was only an excuse for
another speculative issue, but like your other
statements, would be false, because at that time,
owing to the block of goods on the line, they
might just as likely have been ten weeks in
transit as ten days.

"Why they were surcharged on Revenue
stamps was because the whole supply of
postage stamps was so very low that none
could be spared. This will also account for
the Id. on 2|d., the Jd. on Is., which used up
both the 2^d. and Is. stamps entirely, and none
were obtainable till three months afterwards.

The Johannesburg office ordered as usual a
supply of 6d. stamps (of which a great quantity
was sold, but now that the registration fee is
reduced to 4d. is considerably lessened) and
received a small quantity of 6d. revenue sur-
charged "Postzegel," which being insufficient
for our supply had to be repeated.. Almost
immediately after we had received the second
supply the stamps turned up that had been
cabled for from Holland, leaving us with
nearly the whole of the last supply in the safe.
These were bought by me at 6d. each (I
mention the price for your publisher's inform-
ation), a portion of which I obliterated, and a
portion I used on Parcel Post forms in place of
the ordinary stamps, which instead of being-
destroyed as usual were obliterated and obtained
by me again. I could thus sell them at Gd.
each with a little profit, but your firm will be
boycotted at that price.

Just one word more on " Speculative Stamps
of the S.A.R." Johannesburg (the business
centre of the Transvaal) sells in postage stamps
about £125,000 or £10,000 a month.

The sale of surcharged stamps did not
appreciably increase this : certainly not more
£30, therefore, where the necessity exists for a
country with such a huge surplus as the
Transvaal, and with no National Debt, to issue
speculative stamps, neither I nor any sensible
person can understand.

For a firm of your standing to confound a
great republic like the Transvaal — where one
town can subscribe in four hours £65,000 to re-
lieve distress — with some trumpery State which
augments its revenue by issuing speculative
stamps, appears to me to be a wonderful example
of the way in which round men get pitchforked
into square holes in this otherwise grand country.

I am sending press copies of this to other
parties interested in the truth of matters
philatelical. — I am, Gentlemen,Yours faithfully,

W. E. Masters,
Late Asst. Postmaster, Johannesburg.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF POSTAGE STAMPS.

*75

Illustrations of postage Stamps.

AT THE BOW STEEET POLICE COURT.

On the 12th June, 1893, before Sir Jjhn
Bridge, Mr. L. Upcott Gill, the proprietor of
the Baza%r, Exchange and Mart, was charged
with the unlawful possession of a die for the
production of fictitious stamps. The defendant
was originally summoned before Sir John
Bridge for this offence in November last, and
it was then held that he had a lawful excuse
for the possession of the die in question — which
would produce a representation of a 2jd. Cape
of Good Hope stamp, inasmuch as it was only
intended to be printed in a philatelic supplement
to his paper, in black ink, for the information
of the public. The Inland Revenue authorities
appealed against this decision, and Mr. Justice
Grantham and Mr Justice Collins, before whom
the case was heard, allowed the appeal, holding
that no lawful excuse within the meaning of
the Act, had been made out, and the case was
accordingly remitted to the magistrate, with a
direction to convict. Mr Alpe appeared for
the Inland Revenue authorities, Mr Matthews
for the defendant. Mr Matthews said that the
learned Judges held that for a person in the
possession of such a die to prove a lawful excuse
it would be necessary for him to prove either
that he did not know that he had it in his
possession or that he did not know that it could
be used for such a purpose as the production of
fictitious stamps, the learned Judges holding
that they were bound to give it this meaning
for the due protection of the public. This,
however, was purely a legal point and in no
way reflected upon the action of his client, and

he was perfectly certain that Sir John Bridge
would not find it his duty to inflict more than
a nominal penalty. Mr. Alpe said that the
decision amounted to this — that no person in
the country could have in his possession any
die for making any stamp without incurring
a penalty. The Commissioners of Inland
Revenue were determined to put a stop to the
practice. He hoped that great publicity would
be given to this decision, for it had an ex-
ceedingly wide bearing, showing as it did that
it was not even allowable to have a die for the
purpose of illustrating any stam p . With regard
to the question of costs, he had no in-
structions, but any remarks the learned
magistrate should see tit to make would be
most carefully considered. Sir John Bridge
said that this was really a strong ground why
the Commissioners should not ask for their full
costs from the defendant. The learned Judges
only went into the question of the law ; they
had nothing to do with the conduct of the
defendant, and he might therefore repeat,
without in any way being supposed to differ
from the learned Judges, that there was
nothing in the conduct of Mr. Gill which showed
any desire to do wrong to the public, or to do
wrong in any way. He thought, and to some
extent he was justified in thinking, that he was
not breaking the law, hut he was, as this
decision showed. Mr. Alpe said he fully
concurred in these remarks. A tine of 10s. was
imposed on the defendant.

J^otablo Stamps at ®ffiuction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

CHEVELEY &. Co., May 18 and 19, 1896.

£ s. d.

Gt. Britain, Y.R., pin holes ... 5 0 0

India, Provisional Service, 8a. ... (5 15 0

Mauritius, 1848, medium 2d. ... 5 5 0

Dominica, C.A., Is., pair* 10 10 0

May 26 and 27, 1896.

Dominica, Is., carmine, C.A., pair* 10 10 0

India, Service, 8a.. green and lilac... 6 15 0

W. HADLOW, May 20, 1896.

Barbados, large star, Id., pair* ... (5 (5 0
,, Id. on £, 5s., pair, show-
ing both types of "I"

and " D " 21 0 0

Montserrat, C.A., 4d., blue* .., 10 15 0

Nevis, litho, 6d.*

„ ,, 6d., used

„ 6d., green*

,, » used

St. Christopher, C.A., Id., lilac-
rose, on so-called laid*
St. Vincent, no wmk., perf. 15— 15^
6d. yellow-green (Gibbon's 8)*
St. Vincent, perf. 11^-12^ x 14-15

Id. rose-red 1.
„ „ 6d. yellow-

green*
,, Id. in red on \ 6d. blue-
green, pair*
,, star, 5s.*

m „ 5s., used

„ 4d. on Is.*

£ s.

13 0

11 11

8 8

7 10

6 10

42 0

11 11

5 5

16 0

16 10

17 10

14 10

176

THE PHILATELIC RLCORD.

W. HADLOW, May 20, \m. -continued,

£ s.
St. Vincent, C. A, perf. 14, 4d. bright

blue* 6 6
4d. deep-blue* 6 10
„ Perf. 14., 4d. red-
brown* 5 5
Tobago, 1 d. pen surcharge on half 6d.

on piece original euvelope
Turks Isles, Is. prune

4d. on]ls. prune,type 9*
,, 2Jon Is. prune, type 6*
Virgin Isles, perf. 15. 6d.*

,, Is. double lined frame*

June 1, 1896.
Selangor, complete sheet of 60 of

2c. on 24c, green, showing the

varieties of types
Columbia, 1862,20c, red, postmarked

5 10

19 10

5 0

PUTTICK & SIMPSON, May 28 &. 29, 1896.

Spain, 1851, 2rls,, orange-red ..20 10 0

,, 1852, 2rls , pair on original... 24 0 0

1854, lrl 9 0 0

£ s. d.

Mauritius, post paid, Id., orange-red 11 0 0
Virgin Islands, 6d., rose, perf. 12,

entire sheet of 25 24 0 0

VENTOM, BULL & COOPER,

May 21 & 22, 1896.

Great Britain, oct., 10d., Die 2,

block of 4* ... ... 21 0 0

,, ditto, vertical pair* ... 6 0 0

France, If., orange, dotted postmark 8 5 0

„ If., „ grill postmark 6 10 O

Ceylon, imperf., 4d. ... ... 11 0 0

8d 8 10 0

B.C.A, onB.S.A., £10, used ... 8 10 0

U.S., 1861, 5c mustard* 7 2 6

,, Executive set ... ... ... 6 6 0

„ Justice set, 1— 30c 4 17 6

„ ,, 90c, torn ... ... 6 0 0

„ State, 1 — 90c 5 0 0

Nevis, litho., 6d.* 12 0 0

St. Vincent, |d. on ^ 6d., strip of 4* 12 12 0

N S/VV., large'square, Is., wmk. 8* 6 10 0

Queensland, imperf., 2d 5 0 0

Western Australia, 1st issue, 2d. 5 5 O

Notices*

All communications on Editorial matters should
be addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J

Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Letters
enclosing valuables should be registered.

Our Advertisement Rates. — Price per Insertion, net.

Whole Pa°-e

Single.

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6 months.

12 months.

£3 ° °
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£2 12 6
1 7 0
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Half Pao-e

Quarter Page

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Small Advertisements — 5 /- [er inch, in double column, prepaid.

Accounts for a series payable quarterly. Single insertion payable in advance.

Letters, Enquiries, and Remittances connected with the Advertisement pages should be addiessed
to Mr. E. J. Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Advertisements must be received not later
than the 15th of the month for publication in the next issue.

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News.

JULY, 1896.

Qditorial J^otes.

E publish in our Philatelic Gossip page some resolutions which

were adopted by a Meeting of Collectors and Dealers held at

Effingham House on Wednesday, the 15th July, 1896. From

those resolutions it will be gathered that the beautiful Gallery of

the Institute of Painters in Water Colours in Piccadilly has been

finally selected for the holding of the proposed International

Philatelic Exhibition in London next year. It will also be noted that the

members of the Provisional Committee, i.e., the Council of the Philatelic

. Society of London, and the leading dealers invited to attend the

E Vb't' conclave, formed themselves into a General Exhibition Com-

f 1897 mittee, with power to add to their number. It was also decided

to ask Mr. J. A. Tilleard to act as honorary secretary/;-^ tern.
Such is the sum and substance of what we are authorised to convey to our
readers as matters already settled.

The rooms selected are eminently suitable for the purposes of a philatelic
exhibition. They are lighted from the roof, consequently there will be no
danger of delicately-coloured stamps suffering from prolonged exposure to the
sun's rays. They are also most conveniently situated in a fashionable main
thoroughfare with omnibuses continually passing the door from early morning
till midnight, with a direct service to all the main line railway stations ; indeed,
it would be difficult to find accommodation more convenient in any other part
of the metropolis.

We understand that the rooms will not be available till the middle of July,
and that, therefore, the Exhibition will be held in that month instead of, as
first proposed, in the month of May. This change will probably be regarded
as an advantage rather than otherwise, for it will work in better with the
holiday arrangements of most people,

The gallery comprises three splendid rooms and a secretary's office. There
will thus be ample scope for the exhibits and for setting apart a room for
dealers' stalls. There will also be excellent lounge accommodation in the
spacious landings, where tired sightseers may enjoy the luxurious repose of
many a quiet chat. Properly arranged and carried out, the Exhibition can
scarcely fail to be a great success ; for, after all, the main element of success
must be the proper and convenient housing and display of the exhibits, and
that desideratum has been unquestionably secured in the fortunate choice of
the Gallery of the Institute of Painters in Water Colours.

178 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

British
Levant.

In our correspondence page Mr. R. Pearce has re-opened the
question of English stamps used abroad. But he takes up a
side issue. The question was, " Does a postmark alter the
nationality of a stamp ? " We contended that it did not, and that the
nationality could only be changed by a surcharge which altered the availability
of a stamp in its unused condition. Then we were asked if we regarded the
surcharged " 40 Paras " as an English stamp or a foreigner, and we contended
that the surcharge altered the availability of that stamp, and that, therefore,
it could no longer be regarded as an English stamp. Mr. Pearce calls it a
" British " stamp, and we don't know that we are inclined to disagree with
him, but we question very much if the authorities at St. Martin's-le-Grand
would regard it as an English stamp if presented for payment of postage in
this country.

Then Mr. Pearce makes a great deal of the book-keeping point of view.
To our mind the book-keeping arrangement does not affect the question.
For instance, say an English colony, instead of going to the expense of making
stamps of its own, bought and sold English stamps for its postal service.
Those stamps, we submit, would remain English stamps so long as they were
in their unused condition available in the country of issue for the prepay-
ment of postage. No amount of book-keeping or post-marking would alter
their nationality.

However, we are glad that Mr. Pearce has found a point of difference, if
only for the valuable information which he has embodied in his letter.

The term " Levant " has always had a somewhat elastic application. It is
really an Italian word signifying " East." But it may be as well, now that
Mr. Pearce has so interestingly brought it to the front, to quote the authorities
as to the accepted limitations of the word or term.

Butterworth, in his book, Zigzag Journeys in the Levant, says, " The lands
of the Levant are properly those that lie upon and stretch away from the
eastern shores of the Mediterranean, the lands of the sunrise ; but these com-
prise territories so important and historic that the word Levant has come to be
applied to the whole East."

The Standard Dictionary says it applies to " (i)The Eastern Mediterranean
and the Coasts of Syria, Asia Minor, and Egypt ; (2) the regions between
Italy and the Euphrates."

The Encyclopedic Dictionary says it is " a name given to those countries,
and more especially to the coasts of those countries lying on the eastern part
of the Mediterranean and the neighbouring seas, as Turkey, Greece, Egypt,
Asia Minor, Syria, &c."

The Cyclopedia of Names says it is " The region, east of Italy, lying on and
near the Mediterranean, sometimes reckoned as extending east to the
Euphrates and as taking in the Nile valley, thus including Greece and Egypt ;
more specifically, the coast region and islands of Asia Minor and Syria."

Keith Johnston's Dictionary of Geography says it " is commonly applied to
the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean, namely, those of Syria and Asia
Minor."

., . An outcry has been raised against advancing prices for rare

vancmg stamps. Under the head of " Philately in the Mags " we have
quoted what Mr. Phillips and Mr. Castle have to say on the
matter. Dr. Lindenberg opened the protest, and he is told by Mr. Phillips to
study the law of supply and demand, and by Mr. Castle that Berlin is not the
dominant arbiter of Philatelic prices. We do not attach much importance to
the outcry, for the simple reason that we do not believe it is in the power of
any dealer to unduly advance prices without suffering, sooner or later, for his
own folly. Against this view it may, of course, be urged that two or three

EDITORIAL NOTES. 179

dealers practically command market prices by the fact that their catalogues are
accepted as the guides to sell by. In this there is a great deal of truth,
but there is a strong corrective influence in the powerful combined competition
of the smaller dealers, and also in the fact that few, if any, dealers can afford
to hoard stamps in quantities sufficient to affect market prices to any serious
extent. For the great rarities the prices will always be an indefinite quantity
and will always be more or less subject to ever-varying conditions. But for
the general run of stamps there can be no effective prolonged inflation of
prices. The dealer who put up prices beyond their proper level would soon
work injury to his own business, for some one would be sure to step in and
undersell him. Again, no dealer can long afford to court the reputation of
being " high priced." Dealers in stamps cater for customers as much and as
keenly as any other trader, and can no more afford in the long run to play
fast and loose with the market in which they deal than the dealer in any other
commodities. It is true that in some lines, as the ordinary trader would
phrase it, a stamp dealer, now and again, gets a certain amount of monopoly
when he can dictate his own terms, but the manner in which he dictates even
those terms will affect his hold upon his customers. So that from every point
of view the dealer in stamps, just the same as other dealers, is bound by self-
interest to be careful how he tampers with the ordinary market level of prices,
or he will have to pay the inevitable penalty of loss of custom.

g . The editor of the Post Office is "surprised at the little effect which

the decisions of the S.S.S.S. have upon the action of dealers in

relation to the most obviously speculative issues." If our

confrere had written " some dealers " we should have agreed

with him. But it is an obvious fact that the leading and more respectable

firms do not deal in condemned shoddy. The S.S.S.S. can, therefore, well

afford to wait the natural conclusions which will inevitably be drawn by

collectors between those who have too much respect for their business standing

to sell rubbish and those who, for the sake of loaves and fishes, vend stamps

condemned by the S.S.S.S.

But it must not be forgotten that the S.S.S.S. confines itself to making
recommendations. It does not attempt to dictate to anyone, it simply says
in conjunction with the Philatelic Society of London we have inquired into the
character of such and such issues, and we have good reason to consider them
speculative or unnecessary, and we "appeal to all collectors and dealers to
discountenance collecting or dealing in the same." The response to such an
appeal must be left to the good sense and self-respect of each individual
collector and dealer.

The collector who disregards the appeal does little harm to anyone but
himself, except that he helps to make a speculative issue profitable by
becoming a purchaser ; but the dealer who advertises and sells the condemned
rubbish undoubtedly does incalculable harm. He may honestly think his own
judgment is better than the result of the combined work of the S.S.S.S. and
the Philatelic Society of London, but it is a question even in that case whether
the game is worth the candle. Already, be it noted, more than one firm is
advertising its loyalty to the decisions of the S.S.S.S., and in our humble
opinion more solid reputations will be gained in stamp dealing by erring with
the S.S.S.S. than by joining the crowd, all and sundry as it is, of a dubious
fraternity that find special pleasure in flouting its recommendations.

180 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Qarly Jssues of Ij&estcTri Australia.

By Lipman E. Hush.

( Continued from page 153).
The Sixth Issue.

TJ" BOUT 1869-70 the perforation of most of the De La Rue printed
/M stamps underwent a change of perforation, viz., from 12 \ to 14,

w\\ and though there is no difference in the die, paper, or watermark,

rt?T we have a new issue which is not a very easy one to complete,

^ ^ viz. : —

Wmk. Crown and C.C., perf 14.

id. bistre, yellow ochre.
2d. chrome yellow.
4d. carmine.
6d. pale violet.

The One Shilling value apparently was in hand in sufficient quantity to
last until the present one came into use.

Of this issue the Twopence and Sixpence are known with the watermark
upright. All values are found with the watermark sideways.

The Seventh Issue.

New Value.

Typographed on white wove medium glazed paper.

Design : Swan swimming to left in oval ; sides filled with ornaments
(bullrushes).

Inscription : top, Western Australia ; bottom, Postage Threepence.

Watermark : Crown and C.C., perf. 14. Watermark sideways. Threepence,
dark brown, brown, pale brown, red brown.

The Eighth Issue.

Same designs. Wmk. Crown and C.A., sideways.

(a) perf. ii\. {b) perf. 12.

id. yellow brown. id. bistre.

2d. chrome yellow. 2d. chrome yellow.

4d. carmine. 4d. carmine.

6d. violet. 6d. pale violet.

(c)perf 14.

id. bistre, yellow bistre.
2d. chrome yellow, bistre.
3d. red brown, pale brown.
4d. carmine, lake.
6d. pale violet.

(d) perf. 12 X 14.
id. bistre, yellow bistre.

In my classification of the different issues of this Colony I have followed
far more able writers than myself, and I think it would be better still to call the

EARLY ISSUES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 181

Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth issues the Fifth, and merely to group them
all as one, and separate them philatelically merely as sub-varieties. The
change of a watermark or perforation, although of the greatest importance to
us, was probably unnoticed by the Postal Authorities in the years 1869-72.

Mr. C. J. Phillips, in the Monthly Journal (vol. IV.) says, that though he
has classified the stamps according to the position of their watermarks, he
thinks they were printed quite indiscriminately. I am of opinion that the
stamps watermarked upright are of the first printings, and consequently those
showing the watermark sideways are of a later printing. If I am correct there
must have been a stock printed and on hand, but unperforated, when the machines
were changed, as we find two values of the Sixth issue with the upright water-
mark. Coming to the Seventh issue, which contains one stamp only, it may
be well to remark that the 3d. wmk. Crown and C.C., perf. 14, is just lately
obsolete, and for the last year or two its only use has been for surcharging
purposes.

The Eighth issue is a very perplexing one. The stamps appertaining to it
in section (b) are generally described in Catalogues as perf. 12. Mr. Phillips'
lists a set perf. 12 J section (b), and I admit I have never seen any with this
perforation with the watermark C. A. I have merely copied his list.

They exist perf. 12, and a little less ; three sides will sometimes gauge 12
perfectly, and the fourth will be about 1 if, due to the inaccurate spacing of the
needles in the machines. In section (V) we come across the 3d., to which I
beg to draw the reader's attention. Previously to November, 1895, these stamps
were out of issue in the Colony, there being a supply of the C.C. paper in
stock. After the recent provisional Half-penny on Threepence was printed, it
was found that the whole of the stock of Threepenny stamps on C.C. paper
had been used up, and the present stamp of the value of Threepence is on
paper watermarked Crown and C.A., but the colour is different to that of the
previous stamp ; it is on a dark brown or chocolate. Collectors should com-
pare the shades before paying too much for what may be a current stamp ; and
they should also take a stamp with the C.A. watermark known to be of the
1882-5 issue, as the C.C. watermarked stamp exists in the same shade as the
one newly issued. Whilst I am writing of this stamp I may add that there is
less variation in the thickness of the paper in this value than in that of any
other.

In the first three issues the paper varies greatly in thickness, as is only
natural in hand-made paper. All the stamps may be found on thick and thin
paper. Some, especially the Twopence vermilion imperforate of i860, are
found on paper verging on pelure.

The paper of the fourth issue varies a little in the stamp value sixpence,
but I have never found one penny stamp on thin paper.

Of the Fifth — Eighth issues (excepting the threepence value) all may be
found on distinctly thin and thick papers.

[To be continued.}

182

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

£t. ^Aomas and ^a Quadra.

{Translated by permission from " Le Timbre Poste")

HE lithographer who was called upon to furnish the first stamps for
St. Thomas and La Guayra only made one matrix, giving it the value
of \ centavo, and placing the figures on a groundwork of horizontal
lines. This made it very easy for him to constitute his printing plate for
this value, but led him to considerable trouble in preparing plates for
the other values — viz., 1, 2, 3, and 4 centavos. In each case he erased the
whole central portion containing the figure from the transfers, re-united
the horizontal lines, and then inserted the figure of the new value. This operation
has not been done carefully, and in consequence we find a great many varieties,
which we will describe, basing our observations on the stamps we possess, though
unfortunately we have too few to present an exhaustive study.

i Centavo.

No alterations being necessary, the plate used for printing the ^ centavo value
does not show any varieties. The only point worth mentioning is, that the hori-
zontal lines of the background always cross the figures of value.

The different printings can be classified as follows : —

(1) On ordinary yellowish white wove paper.

(2) ,, ,, white ,, _ ,,
\ centavo, black on yellowish white.
I „ ,, „ white.

"We only possess paits of sheets of several values, and these show us that the
stamps have been printed in groups of 24 stamps in 10 horizontal rows. But it is
quite probable that these groups have been repeated several times on the sheet (most
likely four or six times).

This value was issued in July, 1864.

1 Centavo.

For this value we have three types, occasioned by the alterations of the transfers
for each printing.

Type I. — This type can be easily distinguished, three dots of varying size in the
centre of the figure of value ; the third dot is, however, not always visible. The
centre line in the ornamentation at the bottom of the figure measures |mm. ;
the figure itself is 1mm. wide, the height of it is 3^mm. on the left and 3fmm. on
the right.

All the 24 stamps of the transfer from the h centavo value were retouched,
contrary to other information that only four horizontal stamps were treated in this
manner. This system, however, gave the lithographer so much trouble that he dis-
continued to do so for the other values. The transfers from the four retouched stamps
were used to make the other five rows.

Only possessing two blocks of eight stamps and one pair, we cannot find out the
rotation in which they were printed on the sheet, and must be content to make the
following observations : —

( 1 ) The figure of value is not always in the same place ; this can be easily seen
by counting the horizontal lines over the figure, or by the position the figure occupies
in reference to the T of centavo, the figure is either before or after the T. Sometimes
the figure inclines towards the left.

ST. THOMAS AND LA GUAYRA.

183

(2) The horizontal lines were badly redrawn after being erased ; they do not join
the portions of the old lines that were left, being very often between them, and some-
times their number is larger.

(3) The figure 2 of \ is not always completely erased, and portions of it in the
shape of one dash, two dashes, or thicker lines or dots, can be found on the right.

The vertical lines separating the stamps are very often double, which is not the
case in any of the other transfers.

This value was issued in July, 1864.

1 Centavo, black on rose (24 varieties;

Type II. — The figure of value has no dots in the centre. It is l^mrn. wide
and 3| high, and the centre of the ornamentation at the bottom is not so deep as in
the preceding type, only jnmi.

There are 4 horizontal varieties in this type, as follows : —
1st variety. — On the right hand side of the figure of value there are two small
dashes remaining from the figure 2 in J, which had not been completely
erased on the transfer, and the horizontal lines are quite regular.
2nd variety. — The figure 1 inclines towards the left, the centre of the ornamenta-
tion at the lower end of the figure is exactly over the T of centavo, and
the horizontal lines of the background are regular.
3rd variety. — The figure 1 inclines towards the left, and there is a small dash at the

bottom on the right-hand side.
4th variety. — The figure 1 is quite upright, the horizontal lines of the background
are not joined and leave white patches, and there is a small dash on the
right-hand side of the figure.
The time of issue of this type is not known, but the third type was first
chronicled in September, 1868. It took, therefore, about four years to run through
two printings. It is, therefore, to be surmised that the second type was issued about
June, 1866, perhaps a few months earlier.

1 Centavo, black on rose (4 varieties).

Type III. — The figure 1 is similar to the one of the last type, but crossed by the
horizontal lines of the background and differs slightly in form. It is l^inni. wide
and 3Jmm. high, and the ornamentation at the bottom is ^mni.

We do not know the rotation of the four varieties possessing only single
specimens.

variety. — There is only one line over the figure of value ; the horizontal
lines of the background do not join, leaving a white space on the left-hand
side ; on the right the redrawn lines run between the old ones, and there
is an oblique line from the E to the O of centavo.

variety. — There is only one line over the rigure of value ; the redrawn
horizontal lines on the left-hand side run between the old ones instead of
joining them, and there is a portion of the 2 in the shape of a curved
line remaining on the right.
3rd (?) variety. — There are two lines over the figure of value, the horizontal lines
are regular 011 the left and irregular on the right-hand side of the figure,
and there is a curved line on the same side in the middle.

1st (?)

2nd (?

184

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

4th (?) variety. — Same as last, and in addition there is a large black dot on the
right-hand side.

1 centavo, black on rose (4 varieties).
1 ,, ,, violet (4 ,, ).

We have chronicled the 1 centavo violet in the Timbre Poste of September, 1868,
without noticing that the figure of value was crossed by horizontal lines. It is,
therefore, quite possible that the same value in rose, of which we have the same four
varieties, was in use before this date, and as nobody perceived the change, the III.
type in the rose colour was never chronicled.

2 Centavo (!).

"We have two types for this value.

Type I. — The figure of value is not crossed by horizontal lines.

With the exception of the first variety, we do not know the rotation ; of the first
variety we possess a specimen with margin, and are therefore enabled to place it
correctly.

1st variety. — The lines are irregular on the left, and the T of centavo is to the

left of the hollow in the foot of the figure of value.
2nd (?) variety. — The lines are regular, and the T of centavo is to the right of the

hollow in the foot of the figure 2.
3rd (?) variety.— The lines are regular, and the T of centavo is just underneath

the hollow in the foot of the figure 2.
4th (?) variety. — We do not have this variety.

2 Centavo, black on green, yellow green (4 varieties).

This type ivas issued in July, 1864.

Type I. — This type differs only slightly from the preceding one, the shading in the
top portion of the figure of value being lighter. The principal difference is that the
figure of value is crossed by the lines of the background.

We possess only single specimens, and find it therefore impossible to give the
rotation.

1st (?) variety. — There is a vertical line ^mm. in front of the 2 ; on the right-
hand side of the figure there is a curved line, and the T of centavo is under
the hollow in the foot of the figure 2.
2nd (?) variety. — The horizontal lines are irregular on the left, the vertical line is
l^mm. in front of the 2 ; on the right-hand side there are two dots, and
the T of centavo is placed exactly like the first variety.
3rd (?) variety. — The horizontal lines are regular ; the vertical line is £mm. in
front of the 2, and the T of centavo is to the left of the hollow in the foot
of the figure 2.

4th (?) variety. — Of this variety we have not a single specimen.

2 Centavo, black on blue (4 varieties).

_ This stamp has been first chronicled by the Tvmbropliile in March, 1870, but
without stating the fact, that the horizontal lines cross the figure of value. It was
stated at the same time that the 2 centavo in blue arrived about two months since on
newspapers from that country. It has been thought that this stamp also existed
without the lines, and that it owed its origin to an error, but it is not so. It seems to
us after our researches that the colours of the 2 and 4 centavos have been crossed, it
may be in error.

The date of issue of this stamp is January, 1870.

ST. THOMAS AND LA GUAYRA.

185

3 Centavo (!).

Here ive also find two types.

Type I. — The figure of value is not crossed by the horizontal lines of the back-
ground. The four varieties are as follow : —

1st variety. — There is no horizontal line over the figure of value ; the horizontal

lines on the left and right-hand side of the figure are badly joined ; the C

of centavo is crossed by two lines, and the lower portion of the figure 3

on the right-hand side is S^mm. from the first line of the frame.
2nd variety. — The horizontal lines are badly joined on both sides of the figure ;

the C of centavo is crossed by only one line, and the figure 3 is only

3mm. from the inner frame on the right-hand side.
3rd variety. — The horizontal lines are nearly regular ; the C of centavo is without

any crossing line, and the distance of the 3 is 3£mni. from the inner frame.
4th variety. — The horizontal lines are regular ; the C of centavo is without a line,

and the 3 is 3^mm. from the inner frame on the right-hand side.

3 Centavo, black on yellow (4 varieties).

This stamp appeared in July, 1864.

Type II. — The figure is similar to the one in the first type, but more thick set,
and it is crossed by horizontal lines.

"We have only seen single specimens, and can only give the varieties we know ; it
is also impossible to give the rotation.

1st (?) variety. — The old and new horizontal lines of the background are badly

joined on the left and the right-hand side of the figure of value ; there are

two dashes at the top and one dash at the bottom of the figure on the

right-hand side, and the figure 3 is 3|mm. from the inner frame on the

same side.
2nd (?) variety. — The lines are as badly joined as in the last variety ; there are

only two dashes to the right of the figure, and the distance of the 3 from

the inner frame is 35mm.
3rd (?) variety. — The horizontal lines are badly joined on the right ; there is

only one dash on the right, and the distance of the 3 from the inner frame

is 3|mm,
4th (?) variety. — Unknown.

3 Centavo, black on orange (4 varieties).
This stamp was probably issued together with 2 centavo blue.

4 Centavo (!).
There are also two types for this value.

Type I.— The figure of value is not crossed by horizontal lines, and the foot of
the 4 is rounded off on both sides.
The four varieties are as follow : —
1st variety.— The horizontal lines of the background are regular ; there is a dash
to the right of the figure, and the C of centavo is crossed by one horizontal
line.
2nd variety.— There are no lines over the figure of value, the upper ornamen-
tation of the figure 4 bears a pearl, and the C of centavo is not crossed.
3rd variety.— There is a white space between the old and the new lines, and the C

of centavo is not crossed by a line-
4th variety.- The horizontal lines are regular, but the C of centavo is crossed by
two lines.

i86

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

4 Centavo, black on blue (4 varieties).

This stamp was issued in July, 1364.

Type II. — The figure of value is crossed by horizontal lines, and the foot of the
4 is straight instead of curved.

With the exception of the 1st variety, of which we possess a specimen with
margin, we cannot give the rotation, having only seen single specimens. All
varieties have regular horizontal lines.

1st variety. — There are two lines over the figure of value ; and the distance from

the 4 to the inner frame on the right is S^rnm.
2nd (?) variety. — There are two lines over the figure of value ; the distance of
the figure to the inner frame is 3mm. on the right, and there are seven
oblique lines in the top left corner in place of the L of LA GTJAIRA.
3rd (P) variety — There are three lines over the figure of value, and the distance

of the 4 is 3|mm, from the inner frame on the right-hand side.
4th (?) variety. — There are three lines over the figure of value, and the figure 4
is 3|mni. from the right-hand side inner frame.

4 Centavo, black on green (4 varieties).

This stamp was probably issued together with the 2 centavo, blue, and the
3 centavo, orange, in 1870 (?).

The stamps with figures crossed by horizontal lines were not known until 1881.
The consequence of their being chronicled so late was that everybody thought they
were reprints. We do neither believe they are reprints nor that the 2 centavo,
blue, and the 4 centavo, green, were errors. There has been a crossing in the
colours of these two values, in error probably, but the stamps have been issued in a
regular manner. It is possible that this change dates from the time of issue of
1 centavo or of the 2 centavo — i.e., 1868 or 1870.

These stamps have therefore to be catalogued, according to our showing, as
follows : —

I. Issue of July, 1864.

Plain figure of value, thin coloured paper.
1 centavo, black on rose (24 varieties).

1 ,, „ ,, green (4 ,, )

2 „ „ ,, yellow ( 4 „ )

3 ,, ,, ,, blue (4 )

II. Issue of 1865 or 1866.

1 centavo, black on rose (4 varieties).

III. Issue of (?) 1868.
Lined figure.
\ centavo, black on white.

1
1

, ,, ,, rose (4 varieties).

,, violet (4 ,, ).

„ „ blue (4 „ ).

,, orange (4 ,, ).

,, green (4 ,, ).

We shall be glad to receive any communications about these stamps, that we may
be enabled to amplify and complete the observations which we have made.

LUBECK ERROR OF 1859. 187

^uhock Qrror of 1859.

FROM THE " ILLUSTRIERTES BRIEFMARKEN JOURNAL.

( Continued from p. 1 6 1 . )

f. — The Figure 2 in the Lower Right Corner.

a. The usual type of '2 schillings.

This figure is very similar to the lower left 2, except that it
is still narrower and straighter. It is too long in proportion to
its width, and has a weaker appearance than any of the
other 2's.

b. Type I. of the error :

The figure 2 of this first type is exactly the opposite of the 2 which we have
just described. Here the figure is compact and rounded ; it
really appears to be more broad than long, and appears to be
much stouter than any of the other 2's. The head is much
larger than any which we have had occasion to describe.

c. Type II. of the error :

In this type, the main characteristic is the head, which advances far out to
the left. The figure is less compact, and more slender than in
type I., but it is broader and not so stiff as the corresponding
figure of the regular 2 schillings. The differences in the figures
are nowhere so striking as in the lower right corner ; these are,
therefore, the most useful in distinguishing between the two
types of the error.

It only remains to add that the stamps of this first issue of Lubeck have a
watermark, consisting of five-leaved ornaments, strongly resembling flowers.
At any rate, the stamps were printed upon paper with this watermark ; either
this paper was furnished by the postal authorities to the Rathgens firm, or, and
this is just as possible, the paper was already in the possession of the firm ;
there were in all 3,992 sheets of this paper. Of the 2 schillings stamps, exactly
1,392 sheets were printed (not 1,400).

Towards the end of 1861, it became necessary to prepare a new issue of the

two lowest values, viz., \ and 1 schilling, because the supply

r^^P^j of these two stamps was exhausted. This new issue does not

llflr^lstl have the same watermark, as it was not possible to procure any

- j more paper of the same sort; the new watermark consists of

- J numerous dots, presenting a marble-like appearance. The

watermark of small flowers is extremely difficult to see, even upon

whole sheets ; it is only visible in a few stamps, or perhaps in

the margin of the sheet, and even then it is never complete, but

shows only a flower or part of a flower here and there.

The counterfeits of the first two issues of Lubeck are numerous and more
or less dangerous ; but none has been made of the error, unless we wish to
consider as counterfeits the artistic fac-similes which were made of them some
time ago. — Translated from the German by Prof. Raymond for " MekeeVs Weekly
Stamp News."

-I

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

J^oveltiQS and discoveries.

The earliest information as to New Issues will be much appreciated by us, and will be duly credited
to the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our joreign correspondents can materially help us in this
direction. When possible, a specimen should accompany the information, and be addressed to the Editor,
Mr. Edward J. Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon.

Alsace and Lorraine. — Mr.Theodor
Buhl writes : "While I was at Cologne,
Mr. Reinheimer, of Frankfurt, showed me
a most interesting envelope, franked by
what appears to be the first issued stamps
of Alsace and Lorraine. The envelope
bears the signature of the postmaster
authorising the communication to be
forwardei by the Feld Post, which is
signed Nancy, oth September, 1870. The
stamps evidently having been put on the
next morning, are post-marked Nancy,
September 6th, 1870, and it is suggested
that these were the first two stamps used
at all. What is stranger still is that the
envelope is franked with an ordinary
stamp of 20 centimes and a specimen of
the 10c. with reversed network, showing
that both were in use at the same time.
I send you this information, as it may
interest some of the readers of the Record.

Argentine Republic— We have a
copy of a new wrapper stamp which,
according to the Monthly Journal, was
issued on the 25th of May, the eighty-sixth
anniversary of the independence of this
republic, but is intended to replace the
current issue. The stamp is of the large
circular embossed type, with head sur-
mounted with cap of liberty in centre ;
above " Republica Argentina," and below
figure and word of value. The Monthly
Journal says the inscriptions upon the
wrappers and cards are the same as upon
those of the previous issue, but the word
" sol 'am erde'n is added to the instruction
upon the post cards. The full list of
stationery is given by the Monthly Journal
as follows : —

Envelopes.
5C, pink, on cream laid ; 150 x 87 mm.
5C, ,, ,, 148 x 125 mm.

Wrappers.

he, pale blue on straw wove ; 116 x 280 mm.
re, brown ,, .,

2C, green ,, ,,

4c, grey

Post Cards.
3c, orange on pale buff; 132 x 80 mm.
4c, grey ,, „

6c, mauve ,,

6 + 6c, ,, „ \\

Letter Cards.
3c, orange on pale buff; 140 x 8 c mm
4c, grey

British South Africa.— We have

received three values of the Cape stamps
surcharged i ' British — South Africa —
Company," in three lines, in sans serif
capitals, for use in Buluwayo and other
places cut off by the rebellion from the
source of supply at Salisbury ; so that at
the same time there are two series of
stamps current in Rhodesia, the regular
British South Africa series of latest
design , chronicled and illustrated by us in
our March issue (p. 76), in the Salis-
bury district, and the temporary supply
of Cape stamps surcharged as described
for use in the portion cut off from
Salisbury.

The Rhodesia Review published at
Buluwayo, in its issue of the 23rd of May

last, says : —

In consequence of the lack of communication
with Salisbury, the Government have for some
time past run short of postage stamps in this
town, and in order to fill up the hiatus found
it necessary first to surcharge eighteen sheets
of 4s. and seven sheets of 3d. stamps down to
the value of " One Penny." This was followed
again with fifty sheets of 5s. stamps over-
printed to " Threepence," and by the last
coach a very large stock of all values, from ^d.
to 6d. of the current stamps in use at the Cape
have arrived and been put in circulation. We
trust that before this lot is exhausted the
Company will be able to get a fresh stock of
its own stamps from Salisbury. The earlier
values surcharged to " One Penny " and
u Threepence " were never issued to the public,
who had to hand their letters in, paying cash
for them at the counter, and the stamps were
then affixed and defaced by the Post Office
officials.

The London Philatelist says the follow-
ing quantities of surcharged Cape stamps
were despatched from the B.S.A. head
office in Cape Town : —

£50- id., £150— Id , £150— 2d., £33— 3d.,
£150— 4d., and £99— tid.

The surcharge measures as follows : —
" British " 7fmru. long, " South Africa "
14|mm. long, and " Company," including
full stop, 10mm. long. The letters are
uniformly If mm. in height. Total depth
of surcharge 204Lmm. ; space between the
lines of surcharge 2Jmm.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

A minor variety may be noted in all
the stamps of the 5th vertical row, in
which the final " A " of " Africa " has a
defective short right hand stem.

Adhesives.

\A. grey-black ; black surcharge.

id. carmine ,, ,,

2d. ochre ,, ,,

3d. claret ,, ,,

4d. blue ,, ,,

6d. violet ,, ,,

Variety: Short " A" in "Africa."

Jd. grey-black ; black surcharge.
id. carmine ,, ,,

2d. ochre ,, ,,

3d. claret ,, ,,

4d. blue ,, ,,

6d. violet ,, ,,

Bulgaria.— Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co. inform us that Le Timbre Poste is in
error in stating that the Boris stamps
have been put out of circulation, for they
are still on sale at the post offices, and in
daily use. Messrs. Whitfield King & I
Co.'s correspondent at Sophia, in answer j
to an inquiry, says that no limit has yet j
been placed on the time during which
these stamps may be used for postage.

Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. send us
two new high values of the ordinary
series, namely, 1, 2, and 3 leva, perf. 13,
wmk. on sheet ?

Adhesives.

2 leva, pink.

3 leva, black and buff.

Canada. —Dr. Mitchell, writing in
MeheeVs Weekly \ says he "has received a
one-half cent Canada that has been re-
touched, and the whole stamp lightened
up ; there are several pronounced marks
of difference."

Ceylon. — We have from Messrs. Whit-
field King & Co. a 2 cents post-card of the
same type as the 3 cents lilac, printed in
yellow brown on white.

Post-card.
2 cents, yellow brown.

Great Britain. — To the " O. W.

official" and the " W. O. official" we
have now to add the " Army official." It
is announced that from September 1 the
cost of postage of letters at home military
stations, now borne by the public, will be
defrayed by means of postage stamps
marked with thewords, "Army — official."
We have not yet heard what values are
to be surcharged.

Gwalior.— Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co. inform us that they have received
the current 2^ annas, 1 rupee (carmine
and green) 2, 3 and 5 rupees Indian,
surcharged for this State in the same
type as the other values.

Holland.— Mr. Theodor Buhl writes
to us from the Hague that the new
5 gulden has appeared. Type, same as
the 2gl. 50c. Colours, a bronze green
border and red brown centre.

Adhesive.
5gl. bronze green and red brown.

Macao. — We give an illustration of
the new series which has been already
chronicled.

Madagascar. — Messrs. Whitfield
King & Co. send us the new series which
replaces the surcharged French stamps,
and also those of St. Marie, Anjouan,
and Diego Suarez. The label under the
figure of value has the words " Mada-
gascar — et Dependances," in two lines.

Adhc
5c. green, label in red.

blue.

10c. black on lilac, label
15c. blue ,, ,,

25c. black on red, label in red.
40c. red, ,, blue.

50c. rose, ,, ,,

75c. black on orange, label in red.
ifr. bronze green, label in blue.

Mexico.— Our publishers inform us
that they have had the 2 reales of 1861
printed in green on brown, which is the
colour of the 8 reales. The copy was
used and was on part of the original
envelope,

Adhesive.
1861, 2r. green on brown, error.

Roumanian Levant.— Messrs. Whit-
field King & Co. send us a set of three
values of the current Roumanian stamps
surcharged in "Paras" for use in the
Eoumanian Levant. The surcharge
" Paras," in sans-serif type, with figures
of value on each side, is printed in violet
over the original value at the bottom of
the stamp. But a used set on the
original envelope is roughly surcharged
in black.

190

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Adhesives.
10 paras on 5 bani, blue ; violet surcharge.

20 paras on 10 bani, green ,, ,,

i piastre on 25 bani, violet ,, ,,

10 paras on 5 bani, blue ; black surcharge.

20 paras on 10 bani, green ,, ,,

1 piastre on 25 bani, violet ,, ,,

Surcharge Inverted.
10 paras on 5 bani blue ; black surcharge.

Spain. — In a Spanish paper mention
is made of a new stamp issued by the
government for the exclusive use of the
house of representatives. It is of elegant
design, carnation in colour. These are
intended to take the place of the frank,
such as is used by members of the
United States Legislature, and the new
stamp can only be used by them. They
will be distributed to the members free of
charge by the government. They bear
the coat of arms of Spain and the
inscription, " Congreso de los diputados."

Adhesive.
No value. Carnation.

Timor.— We illustrate the new series
already chronicled.

Virgin Islands. — A correspondent
sends us the top row of a sheet of the 6d.
purple, and draws our attention to a
variety in the third stamp from the left
which may very well pass muster as a
large capital I, the upper portion of the
stroke rising above the level of the other
letters. On a close examination, how-
ever, it will be seen that it is not a die
variety, but a simple spreading of the ink
in the lithographic process by which this
value was reproduced. To the same
defective workmanship may be attributed
other minor varieties which may be noted,
as, for instance, a distinct full-stop after
the " V " in the fourth stamp from the
left in the second row. Such defects are
inseparable from all but the very highest
class of lithographic work.

Western Australia.— "We take the
following from the Australian Philate-
list :—

Mr. James A. Healy has for some time past
been running a Cycle Express Co. from
Coolgardie to some of the outlying mining
districts not yet served by the Government, for
the purpose of conveying letters and packets.
A Sydney collector has favoured us with

specimens of two stamps issued by this Company,
and the following extracts from a letter received
from the proprietor : —

" Enclosed pleased find a few envelopes
which have been used in forwarding letters
by the Coolgardie Cycle Express Co.'s cycle
mails, with Company's stamps of Is and
2s. 6d. on them. As these mails will be
discontinued in a few months, owing to the
Government running camel and horse mails,
they will serve as a souvenir of a service
that has had no small share in the opening
. up of the field, and bringing together the
prospectors and capitalists. I despatched
cycle mails some time back to the under-
mentioned places, but, owing to the reasons
referred to above, discontinued some of
them :— To Mount Margaret, Yerilla, Pin-
dinni, Hawke's Nest, etc., 2s. 6d. ; Dundas,
Norseman, Menzies, Niagara, Mount
Malcolm, via Ninety Mile, Is. ; Lake Darlot,
Cutmore's Reef, etc., 2s. Gd. ; Dunnvillc, via
25-mile. Is. ; special mail to Hannan's,
•2s. (3d.

" Yours faithfully,

"James A. Healy."

The stamps are plain coloured rectangles
with a white space in the centre containing the
representation of a bicycle ; below is the value
in figures (2s. fid. and Is.) and the inscriptions
" Coolgardie - Cycle - Express - Company- Cycle
Messages " surround the design. Blue on
w hite wove paper, perf. The cancellation is
effected by a rubber stamp, " Per Coolgardie
Cycle Express Co., Hunt Street." These locals
are very interesting, and will doubtless shortly
become scarce.

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No. 1, price one shilling (postage extra).

The July packet contains Cyprus 30
paras, Grenada Id. ; 1896, Servia 1 para
red, &c.

No. 2, price five shillings (postage extra).

The July packet contains a set of ^d.,
Id., 2d. provisional issue on Cape stamps
for British South Africa, Cyprus (1896)
1 piastre, 4 piastres, &c.

These packets are on sale from July 2oth to
to August 24th (unless the supply is previously
exhausted) and are supplied only to Subscribes
to the •' Philatelic Record and Stamp News.' '
Similar packets will be on sale every month,
and may be subscribed for in advance for the
year (January to December inclusive), at the
following rates : — No. 1 packet (sent by book
post with the paper), 12s., post-free (if by letter
post the postage is Is. extra Inland ; 2s. 6d.
Abroad). No, 2 packet (by letter post), Inland
61s., Abroad 62s. 6d., post-free.

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum)
is extra. — Buhl & Co. Limited, 11, Queen
Victoria Street, E.C.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

191

philately in ike Jfffags.

The Philatelic Society of London.

The Annual Eeport of the Hon. Sec. of
the Philatelic Society of London is pub-
lished in the June number of the London
Philatelist. The following extracts will
be read with interest : —

An interesting feature of the new elections,
showing the attractions afforded by Philately to
men of literary and scientific pursuits, is the
fact that a large proportion of our recruits
belong to one or other of the learned pro-
fessions.

The total number of members borne on the
books of the Society at the present time is 296,
a net increase of fourteen in the course of the
year.

The rule under which the entrance fee has
been increased came into force on the 31st
March last ; and for the future, all new mem-
bers will have to pay an entrance fee of two
guineas, instead of one guinea, as heretofore.

In the course of the season the Society has
issued Part I. of the work on the Stamps of the
British Colonies, Possessions, and Protectorates
in Africa. The book has been well received ;
and the fact that, within a very few weeks of
its appearance, every copy of the edition
available, after providing for the requirements
of the members, has been disposed of, bears
testimony to the success of the publication.

It is hoped that the remaining portion of the
work may be completed in the present year ;
and I am pleased to be able to report that the
book on the Stamps of Great Britain, by Mr.
Hastings Wright and Mr. Creeke, is also fast
approaching completion.

A paper read by the Honorary Secretary early
in the last season, on the De La Rue Series of
the Postage and Telegraph Stamps of India, has
a'so been published by the Society, as a sup-
plement to the work on the Stamps of India
and Ceylon.

An important decision which has recently
been given in the courts of law on the subject
of what constitutes "lawful excuse" in the
possession of dies used for the purposes of illus-
tration, raises a question which affects this
Socie y in the publication of the works from
time to time produced under our auspices. The
matter is one which should engage the serious
attention of the Council during the ensuing
season.

I think I may fairly say ithat the prospects of
Philately have never been so fair as at the pre-
sent time. On all sides, both at home and
abroad, we hear of a large and steady addition
to the numbers of earnest Philatelists, attracted
by the scientific aspects of our pursuit. The
increase in. and the improved quality of, the
literature devoted to the science; the growth
of Societies and the good work done by many
of them ; the frequency of auction sales and the

high prices realized for stamps ; the exhibitions
which are being organised throughout the world ;
and the general prosperity of the stamp trade —
all attest that Philately has come to stay, and
can hold its own among other kindred pursuits.
It is incumbent on us, therefore, to see that
our Society retains the prestige which it has
acquired in the past, and that it shall continue
worthy to be regarded as the premier Society
in the Philatelic world. The work of the
Society itself, and of individual members in the
outside field of Philately during the past year,
has been of a character to maintain the reputa-
tion already achieved, and I make no doubt that
the work of the coming year, in what bids fair
to be an exceptionally busy season, will be such
that the Society will continue to hold the proud
position to which it has attained.

Advancing Prices.

The question of advancing prices has
come somewhat to the front of late, and
Dr. Lindenburg. the eminent philatelist
of Berlin, who has led the way in the
matter of protest, is told by Mr. C. J.
Phillips in the Monthly Journal that he is,
both in his writings and in his speeches,
taking a course that is calculated to do
no good to auy philatelist and only harm
to the general body of collectors, and he
is recommended to study the laws of
supply and demand that he may learn
that ' ' many of the medium and fine
stamps are still priced far under their true
value." Mr. Phillips then adds : —

Some years ago it was quite a common
thing in all the large centres of population, and
perhaps especially in London, for very large
finds of old stamps to come to light in merchants'
and bankers' offices. The consequence was that
the dealers secured these and were able to retail
them at a moderate profit ; now it is not once a
year, in our experience, that such finds are
made. The only one of any account that we
can call to mind during the past twelve months
is the wonderful lot of St. Louis stamps that
turned up in America. The consequence of
this dearth of stamps, combined with the
greatly increased demand for them, is that the
prices have advanced very considerably ; but
everything tends to show that the stamps are
becoming rarer year by year, and are also being
more sought for, and the consequence must be
that there will be a rising market in all the
really better-class goods. Among these we do
not class such things as the Leeward Isles
remainders, or other stamps of this kind, which
have undoubtedly been unduly inflated ; and
such excessive speculation is to be deplored, as
it tends to frighten collectors out of the field.
However. I might say, personally, that I am

192

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

in a very fair position to judge of the demand
for stamps, and also the supply ; and from all
the information that I get, I am absolutely
convinced that the better-class stamps will hold
their value and increase it for many years to
come.

His Worship of Brighton also reads the
offender a brief but kindly admonition in
the very best style of ye bench. Says
Mr. Castle, in the London Philatelist : —

"We are of opinion that his premises are too
narrow, and that in his purview of the situation
apparently he is led unconsciously to regard
Berlin as the dominant arbiter of philatelic
prices. The exact converse is the case.
Philately is, moreover, world-wide, and its
markets are universal ; and it is, therefore,
unsafe to enunciate financial dicta without
regard to general market conditions. In market
overt, the law of supply and demand inevitably
governs the prices, and the same truism applies
to stamps. Rapid rises are often the precursors
of equally speedy falls ; a steady and gradual
rise generally means permanency. The best
advice that Herr Lindenberg or we ourselves
can tender to collectors and investors is " to
put not your trust in Prints," but to study the
philatelic aspect of their purchases, to ascertain
the real relative rarity (not the mythical
" catalogue value") of their requirements, and,
having made up their minds as to the sum , to
wait, and be prepared to purchase when the
opportunity arrives. The failure to observe
these conditions frequently results in the non-
acquisition of desired rarities and subsequent
piteous wails as to raised prices — and missed
opportunities. Outside two or three dealers,
how many German collectors could truly price
and discriminate as to the relative rarity of
their own stamps unused ?

Applause in Court.

Royal Mail Packet, 10c, Pink.

During his recent Eastern tour Mr.
Stanley Gibbons had an interesting
philatelic conversation with Capt. Nash,
the commander of the steamship Mai da,
in which he voyaged from Calcutta to
Rangoon. Mr. Gibbons writes in the
Monthly Journal : —

Captain Nash, it appears, was formerly in
the Royal Mail Packet Company, and in the
year 1875 was second officer on board a local
boat running between St. Thomas and Porto
Rico. It was in that year the well-known
10 cents, pink, Royal Mail Packet stamp made
its appearance, and according to my informant,
was issued solely for use between St. Thomas
and the many small ports of Porto Rico. I
believe the fact of the circulation of this stamp
being limited in its use to letters between these
few ports will be new to most collectors, and this
fact, no doubt, accounts for the relative scarcity
of used specimens. They were, of course,
issued by the company, and at the time were
found to be an immense convenience to the in-
habitants. The British Postal Authorities made
a strenuous effort to put a stop to their use, but

were unsuccessful, it being pointed out to them
that the stamps, although issued by an English
Company, were solely for use between foreign
ports. Consequently the British Postal
Authorities had no jurisdiction in the matter,
and their efforts to stop the use of the stamps
were fruitless. Eventually the matter was
arranged by the English Government paying a
subsidy to the Mail Packet Company for the
suppression of this private postal service.

Major Evans on the S.S.S.S.

Major Evans, in the Monthly Journal,
has a timely editorial on the S.S.S.S., its
work, and its objectors. He writes :—

"We have again to look back over twelve
months, and endeavour briefly to review the
leading philatelic features of that period. The
letter " S," four times repeated, figures pro-
minently in our numbers, and although the
Speculative and the Unnecessary are still with
us, we can fairly say that the Society, to
whose initials we allude, has been doing
excellent work. So much so, indeed, that it
has been accused of "howling down new
issues," and of discouraging the Young
Collector, and the New Collector, and other
worthy persons who are supposed to require
encouragement. That there was a danger to
philately, from the unbridled increase of issues
made mainly for sale to collectors, was
practically universally acknowledged twelve
months ago ; and that a distinct effect has been
produced by the Suppression Society formed
over here, and by the kindred association in
New York, is equally certain.

The provisional issues of pretty pictures,
professedly to commemorate this, that, or the
other, but in reality for the purpose of raising
the wind — either for some impecunious State,
or, more frequently, for the local speculators
who promoted the scheme — are, to our mind,
even less interesting, philatelically, than the
annuals. But the question of the acceptance or re-
jection of either class is an entirely practical one.
It should have rested, in the first instance, -with
collectors to say whether they would, each for
himself, collect these things or not. In effect
their answer was — we collect by our catalogues ;
if these things are chronicled and catalogued,
we shall collect them, until we get too sick of
them to collect at all.

It then became the duty of those of us who
make our living, or some portion of it, by
buying and selling stamps, or by editing
magazines and catalogues, to consider whether
all this profusion of issues was likely to destroy
the popularity of philately, and thus to damage
our interests ; and the majority of us came to
the conclusion that such was likely to be the
case. Now, we believe, there are some who,
having put their hand to the plough of the
S.S.S.S., are inclined to look back after the
flesh-pots of Egypt, the idea being that it is
possible still further to stimulate the pro-
duction of Golden Eggs, without any actual
risk of killing the bird. And, with this fine
mixture of metaphors, we will quit the subject
for the present.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

193

The German S.S.S.S.

Some short - sighted individuals, for
motives too apparent, are nervously
anxious to drive a nail or two into the
coffin of the movement for the sup-
pression of speculative shoddy. But its
steady progress amongst the more self-
respecting class of dealers and collectors
is an encouraging sign of the times. The
Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly says : —

It is a significant fact that the new Federa-
tion of German Philatelic Societies, already
mentioned and described in our report of the
Cologne Congress, is the direct outcome of the
German S.S.S.S. There are a great many
people who look upon the S.S.S.S. of this
country, and its sister organisation in Germany,
as somewhat useless institutions. To such
people it will be startling news to learn that
the protest against speculative issues of stamps,
to be laid before the Washington Postal Con-
gress, is a happy result of proposals addressed
to the Postmaster of Berlin by the German
S.S.S.S. The Postmaster entered readily into
the matter, and requested the Secretary of the
S.S.S.S. to send him a full list of the countries
which in his opinion had issued speculative
stamps. This was done, and eventually the
German Government declared that the matter-
was one in which they were called upon to
move. Accordingly the English Government
was approached. England at once agreed to
join hands with Germany as the seconder of
her motion. Other governments, we believe,
are now falling into line, and it seems probable
that when the motion is brought forward at
Washington, it will not fail for want of
supporters.

Of course, this action on the part of the
German and English Governments is not merely
for the assistance of stamp collectors, but has
its chief reason in the great inconvenience
caused to postal officials in checking the
foreign mails. The constant changes in the
issues of stamps, especially in the Seebeckised
States, make the duties of such officials inor-
dinately trying and heavy.

Major Evans' Reply to Mr. Masters.

Last month we published a copy of a
curious letter addressed by Mr. Masters,
late assistant-postmaster at Johannesburg,
to Messrs. Stanley Gibbons Ltd. Major
Evans, in his reply to that letter, writes in
the Monthly Journal : —

Without wishing to pose as angels of either
sort, we venture to claim a right to hold and to
express an opinion upon the propriety of
government officials speculating in the stamps
which pass through their hands, and from the
distinction which the writer of the letter seems
anxious to draw between the Assistant-Post-
master and Mr. W. E. Masters we gather that
he agrees with us to some extent.

We have explained our attitude in these
matters so often that it seems hardly necessary
to go over the ground again. We have always
held that an issue need not be both Speculative
and Unnecessary to merit depreciation, but that

it is sufficient if it is one or the other of these ;
and again, that by Speculative we do not
necessarily imply that the issue was a specu-
lation on the part of the government which
made it, but that it was made nnder circum-
stances which afforded a plain opening for
speculation on the part of government officials
and others, on the spot. To come to details;
the only Transvaal issue that has been con-
demned in these pages is the " Jubilee Id.,"
and if the motives of the purchasers of the
stock of this stamp were purely patriotic, it
cannot matter to them whether it was con-
demned here or not. It may have been pure
patriotism that caused the inhabitants of
Johannesburg to struggle for copies, at prices
which rose as high as 5s. and afterwards fell
to one-tenth of that amount ; but does Mr.
Masters wish us to understand that pure
patriotism also led the Assistant-Postmaster of
Johannesburg to secure, according to his first
letter, not less than 5000 copies, at a price
which enabled him to offer them at 2d. each,
with a reduction on taking a quantity ?

Against the provisional issues of last year we
had nothing to say, until we found in what
hands such large quantities of them had
accumulated.

The U.S. Bureau of Printing and
its Stamps.

When Uncle Sam first took to printing
his own stamps, everyone prophesied
that he would have to take the work
back to the American Bank Note Co., but
the bad work has given way to excellent
printing.

It is now about two years (says the New
York limes) since the Bureau first undertook
the manufacture of stamps. It had been
demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Post-
master General that the Bureau could perform
the work at an expenditure far below that
necessitated by the then existing system, and
he determined to make the change. The result
at tiist was far from satisfactory. Millions of
stamps were ruined at a heavy expense to the
Government. When, after tedious experiments,
the colour of the stamps was brought to the
desired shade, it was found that the purely
original process of making the mucilage adopted
by the Bureau had resulted in placing on the
market millions of stamps that would not stick.
After a few months of this kind of experience,
the Bureau '•struck its gait," and ever since
the stamp product has been marked by its
uniform excellence.

Tongan Stamps.

In our March number we published
(p._ 78) a letter from Mr. R. B. Leefe,
British Vice-Consul of Tonga, in defence
of certain issues which had been con-
demned by the S.S.S.S. We have now
the other side of the picture presented to
us by Mr. Bassett Hull in the Australian
Philatelist. He writes : — ■

Mr. Leefe, we fear, is championing a some-
what unworthy cause. We have a recollection

i94

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

of a statement made by the Hon. Shirley Baker,
late Premier of Tonga, to an interviewer, in
which he takes credit to himself for having
replenished the almost exhausted coffers of the
Tongan treasury by means of certain surcharges,
created solely for the purpose of sale to collec-
tors, and not to supply any immediate postal
necessity. He chuckled to that interviewer
over what he claimed was an ingenious novelty
and an invention of his own resourceful brain.
The example thus set by the Premier of the
Kingdom was diligently followed by Mr. A. M.
Campbell, the late Postmaster, who lost his
position through supplying large quantities of
Tongan stamps, cancelled to the order of dealers,
and neglecting to explain in his accounts the
difference in value resulting from the cancelling
process This transaction culminated in a libel
action brought by Mr. Campbell against the
Tongan authorities, out of which he came
triumphant. His successor, of the same sur-
name, but not in any way related, has succeeded
in producing an abnormal number of varieties
of surcharged stamps which certainly require
strong evidence to enable vis to accept them as
strictly necessary for postal requirements only.
It must be borne in mind that there is at least
monthly communication between Tonga and
both Auckland and Sydney, so that supplies of
si amps could be readily obtained, and the same
dies cuuld have been used instead of ringing the
changes in the distressingly involved manner
that has characterised the emissions of the last
year or two. Had there been a sudden demand
necessitating the local printing of a supply, we
could understand a variety of surcharge being
issued, but when it is understood that every
variety of surcharge was obtained from Auck-
land, it is hard to explain the necessity for
printing a series from the 2d. plate in a new
colourand surcharging four fresh values thereon,
when all the old plates were available. If King
George II. objected to the perpetuation of his
father's portrait, there were designs with the
arms of the Kingdom which could have been
drawn upon, but no such course was taken.
On the contrary, every effort appears to have
been made to produce an entirely new com-
bination of type, colour, and surcharge for each
fresh issue.

Mr. Leefe states that the Tongan Government
is entirely free from any desire to issue stamps
for mere speculative purposes ; that it has never
heard of the S S.S.S.. and even if it had, would
not let that alliterative Society interfere with
the even ten< r of its wray, but we think that
a Government is responsible for the acts of
its authorised agents and servants, and even
Mr. Leefe's "disinterested" letter will not
clear the Tongan surcharge shoal from the
stigma of being unnecessary issues.

Again, in the words of Mr. Castle,
"We would earnestly counsel all those who
have the real future interests of Philately at
heart, to exercise all precaution, before they
traverse any of the decisions given by the Com-
mittee of the S.S.S S., which has so far per-
formed such signal service.

In these days of Olympian temptations
and Tongan seductions, we thank the

V.-P. of the London Society for teaching
us those wise words. May we all — V.-P.
and plebeians — scrupulously observe; them.

The Olympians.

The suggestion that the Olympian
stamps of Greece should be whitewashed
(i.e., have the ban of the S. S.S.S. removed)
does not meet with much favour.
Messrs. Alfred Smith and Son, in their
Monthly Circular, write : —

The true history of the whole affair does not
seem to have been revealed, but it looks as if
the sale of the original stock had hung fire, and
that the Government is making the best of a
bad job by using up stock which would other-
wise be so much waste paper. "We assure
collectors that in any case they will lose
nothing by not buying these stamps at the
present time. Let them wait in patience a
little longer. For ourselves we have not
wavered in supporting the Society which has
done so much in the interests of collectors ; and
until the legitimacy of these stamps is beyond
question, we shall not offer them for sale.

Filatelic Facts and Fallacies says : —

Now comes the information that the period of
postal usefulness for these stamps will expire
with the 13th of October of this year, and
further, that one value, the 60 lepta, has already
been sold out. Strange facts are connected
with this value. While of the 5 and 10
drachmai (face value $1.00 and $2.00) 100,000
and 50,000 were deemed necessary for the short
period of six months, of the 60 lepta (face value
12c.) only 20,000 copies were issued ; and
rumour has it that this was dene not entirely
accidentally, but that some persons of a
good healthy pull wanted, without too much
outlay, to corner one value in order to
reap a handsome profit by a large increase. If
this is true, if the Government could really lend
its services to such a scheme, the Olympian
issue is one of the most flagrant examples of
speculation, and well fitted for the indignation
of the Society for Suppression of Speculative
Stamps.

The following quantities of each value of the
Olympian Games stamps were delivered by
the Parisian printing house to the Athens
authorities : —

1 lepton 4,000,000

2 lepta 3,000,000

5 „ 3,000,000

10 „ ■ 2,000,000

20 , 4,000,000

25 „ 2,000,000

40 „ 150,000

60 , 20,000

1 drachma 200,000

2 drachmai 150,000

5 „ 100,000

10 „ 50,000

Protection of Cancellations.
According to the Post Office, numerous
devices have been tried by the United

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

195

States Government to prevent the washing
of cancellation ink from stamps. Our
contemporary thinks the last plan of
printing in colours that will run to a
slight extent, the best and effectual one.
But—

There were stamps issued from 1877-79, into
the paper of which some sort of a chemical was
introduced. This d >es not appear until the
stamp is put into water, hut the moment it is, it
becomes stiff, brittle and translucent like a
piece of gelatine. The stamp appears and is
worse than a mucilage soaked one. Alcohol
will not remove it ; benzine does not affect ir.
nor can it be removed entirely by any chemical
wliich we have so far discovered, which does
not at the same time destroy the ink of the
stamp.

U.S. Outer Line.

The Portland Express (U.S.) has the
following about the stamps of the United
States : — -

Stamp collectors who collect the minor varie-
ties of United States stamps are complaining to
themselves at a new variety which the bureau
of engraving and printing has produced, pre-
sumably for their benefit.

This latest production is what might be
technically termed as " outer line,'' and is put
on liy the bureau to secure accurate work in the
perforation.

The current postage stamps, all values from
one cent to five dollars, are engraved and printed
iu sheets of 400 stamps, and afterwards cut down
to " panes " or sheets of 10U, ready for delivery
to the post-offices of the country. The division
of the large sheet into lesser sheets is done at
the same time as the perforating, by means of a
revolving " slitting-knile." The perforation,
by the way, is the last machine operation on
the stamps, being done after the stamps are
gummed.

To help the operator find the correct location
for the perforations, angular marks were for-
merly placed on the side of each large sheet,
dividing it into quarters.

For some reason these were not sufficient, and
the sheets now have guide lines extending
entirely across.

The lines across are so large that where the
perforations do not hide them they are plainly
visible on either one or two sides of the stamps
according to their position in the sheet.

Destruction of Hawaiian Remainders.

To Mr. Walter M. Gifford, the well-
known Hawaiian specialist, is due much
of the credit for the following resolution
in reference to the disposal of remainders,
which we copy from our esteemed con-
temporary, Filatelic Facts and Fallacies : —

The resolution was submitted by the Joint
Finance Committee, Representative Richards
reading : —

" Be it resolved by the Senate and the House
of Representatives, that on and after November

1st, 1896, the sale of postage stamps, postal
cards, and stamped envelopes, issued previous to
the present issue, shall cease at the post-office,
after which date, all, if any, that may remain,
shall be destroyed. And the President shall
appoint a Committee of three (3) disinterested
persons, who shall serve without pay. to act
with the Minister of Finance and Postmaster-
General, for the purpose of checking off all
remaining stock on tbat date, and to see that the
resolution relating to the destroying of the same
is strictly carried out."

Representative Richards said that he thought
the Government might make a good thing out
of these stamps, as collectors and dealers all over
the world would certainly be anxious to get
them.

Representative Kamauoha proposed making
the date December 31st. Seconded by Repre-
sentative Winston, and the resolution as amended
was adopted.

The F.F.F. says:—

The stamps, etc., on hand are of the following
kinds only — 2c. purple, 5c. ultramarine, 10';.
brown, Tic. black, 18c. red, 00c red, $1.00 red,
5c. blue envelopes, 10c. black envelopes.

Austrian Newspaper Stamps, 1867-89.

The Editor of the Boston Stamp Book
in the July instalment of his interesting
reference list of die and type varieties,
has the following note on the Austrian
newspaper stamps of 1867-89:—

This issue, the most common of the Austrian
newspaper stamps, appears in three distinct
dies. Their order is not known, but there is
general agreement that the order here given is
the correct one. In the fhvt type the shading
of the winged cap or petasus is made up of
dotted lines. The outer circle of the medallion,
in which the head is drawn, does not touch the
upper label. The second die agrees with the
first in this latter point, but the shading of the
petasus is of continuous lines. In the third
type the lines are also continuous, but the
medallion touches the upper label.

a. Dotted shading ; space between medallion

and label.

b. Lined shading ; space as in a.

c. Lined shading ; medallion touches label.

Mr. F. Trifet on Old Times.

Mr. F. Trifet, the well-known and old-
established Boston dealer, has been
treating the local philatelic society to
a series of reminiscences of old times in
philately. His paper is published in the
Boston Stamp Book. Like every other
dealer whose connection with stamps
reaches back into the sixties and seventies,
he has some good stories of lost oppor-
tunities. Here is one : — -

At an early period I established friendly
relations with the Post Office Department,
through the third Assistant Postmaster-General.
Nothing in the way of information, proofs, or

ig6

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

essays, but what I could get through them.
Iu all those years their chief clerk was Mr.
William M. Ireland, a liberal-minded man,
much interested in stamps and Post Office
matters, with which he had been connected
since the forties. It was through him tbat in
1876 I was intrusted with the entire Govern-
ment collection gathered by his efforts from
all parts of the world. This I arranged in
two magnificent volumes, adding to its treasures
stamps valued at tbat time at fully three
thousand dollars. When completed I took it
to Washington and presented it to Mr. Barber
for the department. He was very much
pleased, and was sorry he could give me in
return only some old stamps held as waste
paper, and some proofs and essays, all of which
he considered but ill repaid me for my labours.
If I had locked them up in a safe and lost the
combination until now, what would I have
found ?

18 sheets of each of the eight values,
1851-60.

120 complete sbeets of the officials, including
all the high value State in sheets.

150 each of the compound envelopes with
and without patent lines.

Thousands of all the old envelopes.

1847 to 1869 reprints in sets by the hundred,
essays, proofs, specimens, &c, &c.

Among other things were 183 of the " grill
all over" stamp.

U.S. "Grill all Over."

Mr. F. Trifet, speaking of some U.S.
' ' Grill all over " stamps which lie received
from the Post Office in the early days,
says, in a paper printed in the Boston
Stamp Book for July :—

When I received these from Washington I
was told by Mr. Ireland that he gave orders to
make two sheets of them, and that upon trial of
a few specimens through the Washington Post
Office, it was found not to work satisfactorily, and
the smaller grill was tried and was satisfactory.
He assured me that 200 of the 3c. were all that
were made, and no other value was experimented
on, or issued, with grill all over. I am not
making any claims for or against the " grill all
overs," but I must admit that Mr. Ireland's
statement made to me in 1877 has more weight
with me than all other proofs as yet submitted
as to the genuineness of many so-called grilled
stamps.

A Speculation in Grenadas.

The London Philatelist has the follow-
ing account of another "cornering"
operation in which the " cornerers " have
come to grief : —

A somewhat interesting story, the outcome
of which is the issue of the Jd. and Id.
adhesives of the De La Rue type, transpires
concerning the old Id. adhesive (1887). Two
or three speculators bought up the entire stock
of this value with the intent of selling at 3d.
each as a minimum (the amount of the purchase
being some hundreds of pounds !), but the
plenteous supply of these stamps became only

too evident to the would-be speculators, or one
of them at least, who is still waiting the
appearance of some buyer for £25 worth at
double face !

The 10c. Baltimore.

Since the discovery of the 10c. Balti-
more chronicled by us in March last
(p. 84), two other specimens have come to
light, making three known specimens of
this stamp. MekeeVs Weekly thus describes
the three copies : —

One is on blue paper ; this one is badly torn,
about \ of the stamp being damaged. The other
two are on white paper ; one of these is creased
about 4mm. from the right end, and the other
is cut very close along the top.

The Weekly holds that—

It is still the rarest stamp in the world, and
also holds two price records — the highest price
ever paid by a dealer for a single stamp, and the
highest price ever received for any postage
stamp.

A Speculation Frustrated.

While in Eangoon, on his recent trip,
Mr. Stanley Gibbons tells us in the
Monthly Journal, a very remarkable
attempt to foist an issue of stamps on an
Indian State, some fifteen years ago, came
to his knowledge. Here is the story : —

My informant, Mr. Paul, the Deputy Com-
missioner for Nepal, told me tbat he, being at
the time attached to the English residency at
Bhotau, in Northern India, distinctly remem-
bered a parcel of specially designed postage
stamps, of various values in Indian currency,
being received in his office. This consignment
came from London, of all places in the world,
and was an entirely unsolicited one. The
stamps were sent to the Residency on specu-
lation, and were accompanied by the cool
request that they should be issued for use in
the State.

The £40,000 Collection.

For some months past a big collection
has been advertised for sale in the adver-
tisement pages of the London Philatelist
at a figure (£40,000) which made us all
curious to find out what eminent collector
was selling out. The indefatigable C. J. P.
has run it to earth in Hamburg ; and
after inspecting the forty-thousand-poun-
der, here is his report from the June
number of the Monthly Journal : —

In this town (Hamburg) I had the pleasure
of inspecting the vast collection, which was
offered some months ago in the London Phil-
atelist for the sum of something like £40,000.
However, this accumulation might rather be
called a dealer's stock than a collection. The
esteemed owner has made a practice for some
years past of buying up various collections and
stocks, and appears to have kept every stamp
that he purchased, without considering whether
it was wanted in his collection or not; the

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

197

consequence is that in many cases he has the
same stamp fifty or a hundred times over, even
when there is no variety of postmark. This
especially applies, of course, to the Hamburg
stamps, which are the grandest lot that I have
ever seen. The collection is undoubtedly an
extremely valuable one, but it does not possess
a very high philatelic interest, because, first of
all, the rarities are missing ; secondly, many of
the stamps are not in fine condition, and they
are not well classified. I was sorry also to note
that a number of the rarer varieties are forgeries.
The owner would be well advised to have a
fine selection made from this great accumulation,
and he would then have the basis or nucleus of
a remarkably fine general collection, to which
the rarities could be added as opportunities
occurred.

Great Britain, Early Perfs.

The English Specialists' Journal will
lose caste as a journal for English
specialists if it lays itself open to being
tripped up as it is in the June number
of the Monthly Circular. The Editor of
the Monthly Circular writes :

We have lately seen it gravely stated in a
journal written especially for specialists that
the English line-engraved stamps were per-
forated by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., and
that only the surface-printed ones were per-
forated at Somerset House. Messrs. Perkins,
Bacon & Co. never perforated for the Govern-
ment a single sheet of the line-engraved
English stamps. Perforation of penny postage
stamps began at Somerset House on 27th
January, 1854, and the first postage stamp
manufactured by De La Rue & Co. was issued

in 1855. Perkins, Bacon & Co. had not for
many years the machinery for perforating
stamps, and when they did begin they had only
single-line machines. The machine they ex-
hibited at the Philatelic Exhibition of 1890
was, we believe, the first they made use of,
and this was a rotary machine, hand worked.

The paragraph referred to above was
quoted by us (p. 140) last month.
Though not holding ourselves responsible
for the correctness of all we quote, we do
not wittingly pass obviously incorrect
statements. This error was noted, but
too late to exclude it.

New Issue for France.

A few months back we heard a great
deal of an intended new issue for France,
and an illustration of a curious design
went the rounds of the press as the ac-
cepted design. Our illustration will be
found in our March number, p. 71. The
project seems to hang fire. The Editor
of the Monthly Circular writes : —

We hear that the projected new issue for
France is as far as ever from being realised.
The Post-office Department in France is under
the dominion of the Minister of Commerce for
the time being, and unless he can be in office
for the period required to decide on, prepare,
and issue a series of stamps, his successor in
office will probably undo all that has been done.
The late Minister was for the Phrygian Cap and
all that nonsense that formed no part of M.
Grasset's original design, which was made in the
time of his predecessor, but the wheel of fortune
has gone round and another occupies the place
of Minister.

THE PHTLATELJC RECORD.

philatelic Qossip.

Philatelic Exhibition for 1897.

A meeting- of Collectors and Dealers
was held at Effingham House on Thursday,
16th July, 1896, to receive and consider
the Report of the Sub -committee ap-
pointed to make inquiries as to a suitable
place for holding the proposed Inter-
national Philatelic Exhibition to be held
next year.

After some discussion the following
resolutions were adopted : —

That the recommendation of the Sub- com-
mittee to hold the proposed Philatelic Exhibi-
tion for 1897, at the Gallery of the Royal
Institute of Painters of Water Colours, Picca-
dilly, be accepted, and that Mr. J. A. Tilleard
be authorised to engage the premises without
delav.

That the members of the Provisional Com-
mittee form themselves into a General Exhibi-
tion Committee, with power to add to their
number.

That Mr. J. A. Tilleard be asked to act, pro
tern., as Hon. Sec.

Mr. Trifet and the S.S.S.S.

Mr. F. Trifet, the Boston Dealer, does
not seem to love the S.S S.S. Says he : —

A society exists which keeps the small boy
down by condemning legitimate stamps that
pay postage, and allows one of its officers to send
to its members stamps of a republic which exists
only in the hearts of those fighting for its free-
dom, that has no Post Office Department, and
whose stamps are utterly useless for postage.

Perhaps Mr. Trifet will condescend to
details, and tell us what legitimate stamp
the S.S.S.S. has condemned : we do not
know of one. And who is the " official "
who has been dealing in the rubbish
complained of ?

Conflicting Castles.

According to the Daily Stamp Item
(U.S.), Mr. Albrecht, the New York
Dealer, while recently on a trip to Europe,
bought an entire sheet of Saxony 3pf.,
and sold the same at once to Mr. Castle.
The sheet in question for some time
formed part of the Friede Museum col-
lection in Vienna.

But the Daily Stamp Item is very much
exercised, and so are we, because the
despatch does not state whether the pur-
chaser was Mr. Castle, of America, or
only the Brighton variety. When there
was only one Eichard in the field we were
content ; now there are two, we shall be
for ever mixing them up like the cele-
brated twins.

A Strange Customer.

Messrs. Bogert & Durbin, in their
Philatelic Monthly, tell the following
curious story of an incident which
happened in one of their places of
business : —

A short time ago, our New York office was
the scene of an event so out of the common and
so very extraordinary, that we feel compelled to
acquaint our readers with it.

A new customer, after buying about $10
worth of the current unused stamps of Italy,
Egypt and Olympic stamps of Greece, de-
liberately tore them up into small fragments
and deposited them on the floor.

Deeming this curious conduct, deserving- an
explanation, he stated that he had been travelling
with a party in the said countries, that the
manager had bribed the customs officers to pass
the trunks of the membeis of the party, which
fact he had not known till too late to pay the
proper duties. That he had made a liberal
estimate of the duties rightfully due, and had
adopted the means above described to pay the
same.

The Hague Exhibition.

PRINCIPAL AWARDS.

Special honorary medal given by the Queen of

Holland: — C. F. Leliman.
Class A.— Anton M. Van Hoek, Rotterdam 1
„ - Th. Lemaiie, Paris - - -2
„ J. A. Wreesman, Groningen - 3
„ B. — (Hamburg), Julius Lossau, Ham-
burg - - - - - 1
,, - (Mauritius), A. Wulbern, Ham-
burg -

,, - (Port.Indies).Th. Lemaire, Paris JJ

,, T). — A. Beddig, Hannover - - 1

„ E. — C. F. Leliman, Heerde - - 1

,, - H. de Jongh, Hertogenbosch - 2

„ F. — J. J. Post, Rhenen - - - 1

,, G. — J. L. Van Dieten, Rotterdam - 1

,. H.— Otto Friese, Magdeburg - - 1

„ J. — C. F. Leliman, Heerde - - 1

,, - H. de Jongh - - - - 2

„ K. — C. F. Liicke, Leipzig - - 1

,, - E. Heitmann, Leipzig - - 2

,, L. — Hugo Krotsch, Leipzig - - 1

„ - Whitfield King, Ipswich - - 2

,. M. — J. B. Moens, Brussels - - 1

„ - J. H. L. Van Emschot, Hasselt 1
„ - Scott's Stamp & Coin Company,

New York - - - - 2

,, - E. Diena, Modena - - - 3

„ N.— H. G. Smit, Wissekei-ke - - 1

„ 0.- H. N. Campbell, London - - 1

Messrs. Buhl & Co., Limited, did not exhibit
for competition, Mr. T. Buhl being a Member
of the Jury.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

199

Our Philatelic J. P.

The Stamp Collectors' Fortnight] y

It looks as though Mr. M. P. Castle, in his
capacity of magistrate, may shortly have an
opportunity of sitting in judgment upon a
philatelic burglar. On "Wednesday, June 17th,
a studio in North Street, Brighton, occupied by
a Mr. "W". Feldewicke was entered by midnight
visitors. The studio contained a large quantity
of foreign stamps and rare coins, but, as Mr.
Feldewicke humorously remarked to a repre-
sentative of the Sussex Daily News, the burglar
was evidently more of a numismatist than a
philatelist, and, while he left valuable stamps
to take care of themselves, he appropriated
about thirty shillingsworth of foreign silver
coins from boxes which were at the time on the
counter. The thief, or thieves, then stole away ;
and so far the police have no clue.

A Tall Story.

The following story, told by the Agents'
Guide, is quite tall enough to be enjoyed
on both sides of the Atlantic : —

A young man had been collecting postage
stamps for years, and the passion had so grown
upon him that he began to care more for the
quantity than the quality of his bits of stamped
paper. He accordingly inserted in the Times
one day the following announcement : —

MABRIAGE. — A handsome brunette,
twenty years of age, possessing £100,000 in
her own right and an expectancy of half a
million, would marry an honest man, even
though he had no fortune. Letters will be
received until the end of the month, and
should be accompanied with stamps for return
postage to secure attention.

The result may be guessed. From all parts
of Europe, and even Asia and Africa, the re-
sponses came. The result was that the young
man's collection of stamps was augmented by
over 25,000 specimens, from nearly every
country in the world.

An Editor takes a Holiday.

Mr. Ewen announces in the July
number of the English Specialists'' Journal
that the next number of the K. S. ,/. will
not appear until October 7th ' ' owing to
the necessity of our taking a short holiday
after the hard work of the past season."
Truly, this editor who rusticates by the
sea shore in quaint little Swanage, makes
us envious of his idea of "a short holiday,"
and his method of arranging it.

American Bank Note Co. Proofs.

Last month (p. 172) we quoted a state-
ment from the Post Office (U.S.) as to the
sale of " proofs " by the American Bank
Note Co., but expressed our surprise that
the Company should feel itself at liberty
to sell proofs. It now seems that our
contemporary made a slip. Instead of

saying that the Secretary of the American
Bank Note Co. had caused it to be given
out that no more proofs of any stamps
would be sold or given away by the Com-
pany,

It should have been the Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States has caused it to be
given out that no more proofs of any kind will
be distributed by the Government. We under-
stand that the American Bank Note Co. never
did sell or give away anjT proofs of stamps.

Stamp Exchanges.

Mr. A. E. C. Lyell, of 73, Loanhead
Terrace, Aberdeen, sends us a very neat
little book of rules of his International
Stamp Exchange Club. The following
extract from an explanatory page may
prove of interest to those of our readers
who have not yet tried this method of
adding to their collections and disposing
of their duplicates : —

As a great many private collectors do not
quite understand the objects and working of
Exchange Societies, it is thought advisable to
give a general idea of how our Society is
conducted. As will be seen from Rule 3,
members are requested to send a sheet or sheets
of their best duplicates to the Secretary, if
possible, by the '20th of each month for insertion
in the packet issued on the first of the month
following. Having received these sheets, the
Secretary takes a note of each, and encloses the
lot in a special leather case, which is then sent
to the first member on the list, who will look
over the lot, retaining such as he may desire.
and entering total number and value on list
accompanying. Having done this, he will post
or hand it to the next number on the list, who
will act similarly, and so on until the packet is
returned to the Secretary, previous to being
sent abroad to foreign members. At the end of
every two months the Secretary will make up a
note of the accounts, and in the event of any
member having bought more stamps than he
has sold, a note of his account will be rendered,
when a prompt remittance of the balance is
requested. If, on the other hand, he has sold
more than he has bought, a postal order for such
balance will be sent.

Sale of the Boston Stamp Book.

The Boston Stamp Booh, which on its
first appearance at once won the hearts
of many collectors by its neat get up,
has been purchased by its editor, the
Kev. John Luther Kilbon, who will
continue it on the old lines. The June
number, which is the first number under
the change, is before us. Editor Kilbon
tells us that " the reason why there is a
new owner is because the magazine could
be sold at a handsome profit to its former
owner, and still promise to pay its new
owner a good round sum of money every
year." We congratulate our confrere
and wish him success.

200

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

The Egyptian Post Office.

Seba Pasha's annual report for 1895
shows a further increase in the business
done by the department over which his
Excellency presides. The number of
pieces dealt with by the post - office
amounted to 22,446,000 in 1895, against
21,070,000 in 1894, the internal traffic
alone accounting for half this increase.
During the last five years the volume of
postal traffic in Egypt itself has risen
steadily from 11,523,000 to 15,270,000—
an increase which clearly reflects the
general growth of activity and prosperity
under British control. The most im-
portant reform effected during 1895 was
the abolition of the Government mo-
nopoly and reduction of rates for the
conveyance of specie — a very considerable
boon, as Saba Pasha points out, in a
country where there are no bank notes, and
money can therefore only be transmitted
in the shape of specie. This liberal policy
has as usual led to a large development
of business, and the loss of revenue has
consequently proved very much smaller
than was anticipated. Though calculated
in the estimates at only £E 100, 000, the
receipts of the Egyptian Post Office
amounted in 1895 to £E1 10,352, or only
£E3,148 less than in 1894. The expen-
diture was £E95,119.

A Philatelic Outing.

The City of London Philatelic Club
propose to organize this summer an Up-
Eiver Excursion on the lines of the very
enjoyable outing of two years ago.
August is thought to be the most suitable
month, and Saturday, August 22nd, has
been suggested as a good date for the trip.
At an informal gathering of some of the
Committee Members of the Club, the pro-
gramme was to some extent outlined —
tent itively of course. It was suggested
that members and others participating in
the outing should meet at Waterloo Sta-
tion at 8.30 a.m., proceed by train to
Windsor, and thence by steam or electric
launch up-river. Lunch would be taken
on board, and tea either at Marlow or on
the return journey. The cost of the trip,
including railway fare, steam launch,
luncheon and tea, would be 12s. 6d. per
head, or for double ticket (lady and
gentleman), £1:1:0. As it is desirable
to know at once how many would like to
take part in this excursion, applications
to that effect (which would not be in any
way binding at this stage), should at
once be made to the Hon. Secretary,
Mr. C. Forbes, 42, Strahan Koad, Bow, E.
Any philatelist, member of the Club, or
otherwise, will be cordially welcome.

Unwise Collecting.

Willoughby Cook, twenty-two, living
at Ferndale Eoad, Stamford Hill, was
recently charged on remand at Stratford
with obtaining £11 7s. 5d. by means of
false pretences with intent to cheat and
defraud the New Oils Company, Limited,
of Silvertown. — The accused was in the
employ of the company, and he paid the
wages and kept the books. The allega-
tion of the prosecution was that he had
for some time past drawn wages which
had not been earned. — Mr. C. C. Sharman
said the prosecution had no desire to
press the case. Prisoner had hitherto
borne a good character, and his family
were in good positions. So far as could
be discovered, all the money prisoner had
embezzled had been expended in the
purchase of postage stamps, which he
had offered to give upv— Mr. Fred George,
who appeared for prisoner, said his stamp
collection was worth several hundred
pounds. — Prisoner was bound over under
the First Offenders' Act.

An Aged Postmistress.

The Glasgow Herald records the recent
death of Mrs. Betsy Swan, postmistress,
Dalton Village, Dumfriesshire, the oldest
postal official in the kingdom. Mrs.
Swan, who had long been a widow,
received the appointment of postmistress
fifty years ago, and although she was
ninety years of age continued to hold the
office, and, with the exception of a very
few days, discharged her duties until the
last. Some doubt existed whether, when
the telegraph system was introduced to
Dalton, two years ago, Mrs. Swan would
be able to conduct the work, but she
quite surprised the post-office officials by
the rapidity with which she became an
efficient telegraphist.

The Oldest Philatelic Magazine in
America.

The June number of the Eastern
Philatelist is labelled " Centennial Num-
ber," and in its editorial it explains as
follows : —

" With this issue the Eastern Philatelist
arrives at an age seldom attained by a stamp
publication, it being our centennial number.
For one hundred months it has regularly visited
the philatelic public ; it has never skipped a
month nor issued any double numbers. For
nearly a year it has enjoyed the distinction of
being the oldest philatelic magazine in America,
which proud position we hope to occupy for
many years to come."

This number of the Record is, we believe,
about the 200th, and we, therefore, tender
our centennial confrere our centennial
greetings. May we long continue to
enjoy our old age and our career of use-
fulness in the pursuit we have at heart.

CORRESPONDENCE.

20I

Hilckes' Auction Summary.

Mr. Hilckes announces that the second
volume of his auction summary will be
published in a few weeks. The price will
will be reduced to Is. 6d., though the
book will be increased in bulk. Sundry
improvements will be made to facilitate
the work of reference. Such an excellent
work deserves a free advertisement, and
we give it this preliminary notice in the
hope that it may help to popularise a
useful little book, the production of which
must be more a labour of love than of
profit.

Ashanti Army Telegraph Stamps.

The S.C.J, has seen a complete set of
the telegraph stamps recently used by the
British Army of Occupation. It says the
stamps used are similar to those used in
British Bechuanaland, but the bottom
label is inscribed " Army Telegraphs."
The 8. C.J. gives the list as follows : —
Id. mauve and black 2s. (!d. green and brown
2d. mauve and blue 5s. green and puce
Cd. mauve and green 10s. green and carmine
Is. green and black £l mauve and black

An Automatic Post Office.

An automatic stamp distributor (says
the Devon Gazette) has been invented by
Mr. Shapley, of Park Street, Bristol, and
is being submitted to the Post Office
authorities. The object is to supply
penny and halfpenny postage stamps at
the pillar boxes and also at local offices
after hours, as well as the country places,
where often a long distance has to be
walked before a stamp can be obtained
The working parts of the machine are
simple in construction and perfect in
action.

Commemorative French.

It is announced that a special set of
stamps is in preparation for the Fivnch
Exhibition which is to be held in 1900,
which will have pictures of episodes in
French history. It is to be hoped
that long before the year 1900 all
commemorative issues will be barred
from use in the Postal Union, and will
thus be relegated to their proper level
of local stamps.

^2i ¥

(Correspondence.

" British Levant Stamps."

Dear Sin, — I have read with interest
the recent discussion with regard to what
have been called "Colonial English"
stamps. On the main point I agree with
the views generally expressed at a
recent meeting of the Philatelic Society
and advocated in the Philatelic Record.
The fact that a stamp issued by this
country, at whose cost the service denoted
by the use of the stamp has been per-
formed, has been cancelled outside the
United Kingdom cannot make that stamp
a postal issue of the country or colony
in which such cancellation has taken
place.

But in the course of discussion another
point has been raised, and opinions have
been expressed with which I do not agree.
It has been argued Avith special reference
to the British stamps overprinted with
the Turkish currency, that such over-
print " divorces " those stamps from this
country and makes them " foreigners."
In the $tam]> Col 'lectors' Fortnight!// for the
2nd May last I read that " Mr Nankivell,
hard pressed . . . concerning the
Constantinople stamps, stuck steadfastly

to his guns. The surcharge of ' 40 paras '
on the 2od. stamp made that ptamp a
foreigner, but Id. stamps sold and used at
Constantinople remained British." From
that statement I dissent, and contend that
the 2Ad. stamps continue to be British.
A 2^d. stamp surcharged "40 paras" used
at Constantinople would be cancelled by
a defacing stamp bearing the words
" British Post Office." The stamp could
only be bought at a post office main-
tained by this country, and it would only
defray the postage of a letter posted at
a British post office. The overprint does
not alter the nationality. A British
stamp surcharged with Turkish currency
would not be accepted at a Turkish post
office, but the letter bearing it would be
treated as unpaid.

As the sum paid for one of these stamps
would reach the British exchequer, I
believe that the stamp could be legally
used in the United Kingdom, although
probably the authorities at St. Martins-
le-Grand would not accept it owing to
their devotion to the sacred red tape. It
must also be borne in mind that the
amount fixed by the Postal Union as
the rate for a half ounce letter from

202

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Turkey to England is not quite the same
as the rate fixed for a letter from England
to Turkey : 40 paras are not equivalent
to 2^d.

The stamps are surcharged with the
Turkish currency to comply with the
international regulations of the Postal
Union, but not for that purpose only.
The rate from Turkey to England for
a letter weighing six ounces has been
fixed at 12 piastres. Great Britain has
no stamp of a value exactly corresponding
to 12 piastres, but the stamp of the nearest
value is taken — the 2s. 6d. stamp — and
overprinted " 12 piastres." But 2s. 6d. is
equal to 13f piastres ; consequently, if
2s. 6d. stamps could be bought in Con-
stantinople un surcharged for 12 piastres,
a profit could be made, and a fraud on
the revenue of this country committed,
by buying the stamps in Turkey for use
or for sale here.

It may be of interest to trace the
origin of foreign post offices in Turkey,
and it will be seen that the right of the
various Powers to maintain these offices
originated in a treaty made before the
adhesive postal label was thought of.

So far back as June, 1783, a Treaty of
Commerce was made between Eussia and
Turkey which gave reciprocal facilities
for the postal couriers of the two States,
and in the following year a treaty between
Austria and Turkey declared by one of
its articles that the " the Government
of Austria is entitled to claim for its
subjects, without exception, the same
privileges, advantages, and favours which
are now enjoyed, or may hereafter be
enjoyed, by other Frankish nations, and
particularly by the French, the English,
the Dutch, and the Russians, or by any
other still more favoured nation." In
virtue of that stipulation an Austrian
post office was established in Constan-
tinople; and a French post office was
opened there under a treaty between
France and Turkey dated 25th November,
1838. A British post office was first
established in Constantinople in 1857,
Great Britain being entitled by treaty
to the same privileges as are enjoyed by
other countries. A German post office
was opened in 1876.

Turkey has on more than one occasion
endeavoured to obtain the rescission of
these treaty rights and to acquire sole
control over the postal system within the
empire, but these attempts have been
strenuously resisted by some of the
powers, and especially by Great Britain.
These British stamps are classed in the
catalogue of Messrs. Stanley Gibbons as a

"Special Issue for Levant Post Offices."
I do not think this a correct nomenclature.
Although rather cumbersome for a head-
ing, the description should be " Special
Issue for British Post Offices in the
Ottoman Empire."

A book of reference says that the word
' ' Levant " is a name applied to all the
regions eastward from Italy as far as the
Euphrates and the Nile. It, therefore,
embraces Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt,
where these stamps are not used.
Yours truly,

R. Pearce.

Indian Postal Annoyances.

Dear Sirs, — On the arrival of the last
mail I received an intimation from the
Post Office informing me that a packet
had arrived and to attend the Post Office
and open the same, in order to enable the
Postmaster to see whether the letter con-
tained any dutiable goods. I consequently
attended the Post Office, when I found
that the letter was from you and was
dated 15th April, with a sheet of rare
stamps. After an inspection of the
contents the letter was taken back by the
postal authorities and sent to the Custom
House. Two days afterwards the letter
was again sent to me with an intimation
that it would be delivered over on my
paying £3 on account of duty. I refused
the letter and went immediately to the
Custom House and asked the collector
there to allow me to pick out whatever
stamps I liked from it, and I would
willingly pay duty for what I took, but
he would not allow the bulk to be
broken, and also declined to give me
refund for what I returned, as he said
stamps are very difficult to be identified.
This is very hard, and I had no other help
but to return the stamps. I may not
even keep from the sheet the worth of the
duty that I pay.

This tariff business will entirely paralyse
the stamp- collecting business in India.
You know that very often Exchange
prices are very fictitious, and it is very
hard to ask a man to pay duty of
£l, £2, £3, or more, when from stamps
of £10 sent for approval the man may not
keep 10s., and also to prevent him from
getting drawback. I hope you will
kindly move in the matter in England
and ask your Society to take up the
matter, and also ventilate our grievances
in the Philatelic Record.

Yours truly,

Karachi, May, 1896. F. E. P.

FORGERIES AND REPRINTS.

203

fiorgories and Reprints.

Newfoundland Reprints.

There is bad news from Newfoundland.
That struggling Colony whose stamps
have hitherto been amongst the most
prized of all our philatelic treasures, has
taken to reprinting. The Boston Stamp
Book says : —

We have in our possession a set of the
reprints lately issued by Newfoundland. They
are the 1-2 c., red, 1 c., brown violet and 2 c.
green, of 1880 and 1881. The purpose of the
issue is evidently to obtain cash from stamp
collectors for the nearly bankrupt government.
The reproductions are not perfect, of course,
but they will be very hard to detect without
originals at hand for comparison. The paper is
a little whiter, though of about the same weight
and texture, and the colours all differ by a
shade. The 1-2 c. is the poorest of the lot, the
colour having a somewhat washed-out appear-
ance. The 1 c. is a really more attractive
shade than either of the originals, being some-
what richer and more of a purple cast, though
still brown. The green is as nearly a pure
green as can be readily found, having nothing
of the yellowish cast which is generally to be
noticed in the original 2 c, stamps. The best test,
sofar as we have been able to discover, is in the
gum. The colour is practically the same,
though the new gum has a somewhat lighter
look. But on the originals the gum is heavy
and very smooth, showing sometimes slight
traces of the brush by which it was applied.
In the reprints, the gum, while still thick, is a
very little crackled, though not very distinctly so.

We understand that, the reprints are avail-
able for postage, and they do not appear to be
distinct enough to be classed as a new issue.
The S. S. S. S. may make a fuss over these
reprints, but unless they buy them all up as
fast as Newfoundland wants to print them, we
do not see what more they can do.

The Philatelic Journal of Great Britain
says the shades of the reprints are quite
distinct from the originals. Old brown
gum has been used, and the perforation,
12, is correct. The paper is close wove,
and bears evidence of having been printed
by the British American Bank Note
Company, Montreal. The P. J. G. B.
gives the shades as follows : —
1880.
Original. Reprint.

lc. lilac to deep violet. lc. yellowish brown.
2c. light yellow-green. 2c. dark blue-green.
3c. amber. 3c. dark brown.

1887.
£c. carmine. .lc. orange-red.

3c. dull blue. 3c. dark blue.

It is to be hoped that no further
reprintings will take place. If the
Colony is so hard up that it must draw
upon stamp collectors and really cannot

afford to pay for a new design, it would
be much more honest and less objection-
able to ring the changes of new colours
on the current series.

Doctoring U.S. Stamps.

The Po.H Office (U.S.) hears that a
further attempt at deceiving collectors of
United States stamps has been made.

It is reported that the outer ornaments on
stamps of the 1881 issue have been removed by
some one, who understands how to do such,
work, and specimens have been offered for sale
as those of a separate issue of United States
stamps. The fraud is apparently the work of
the same party whose fraudulent grills are
noticed in this number of the Post Office. We
mention no name at present, but as soon as we
have positive proof we shall do so. It is said
also that ten cent, stamps of the common type
of 1861, are being changed to the rare variety
by the removal of the line above U.S. Postage.
This is a fraud quite easily detected by one
acquainted with the characteristics of the plate
from which the scarce stamp was printed.
Collectors should be more careful than ever
about buying scarce varieties from any but
responsible dealers.

Great Britain.

The English Specialist^ Journal notes
the following : —

I. R. Official. — Mr. Heron Allen has shown
us a Id. lilac with forged overprint " I. It.
Official," and informs us he has both the Id.
;< 16 dots" and Id. " 14 dots." The height of
the letters in the forgery is 3mm,, or £mm.
shorter than in the genuine overprint. The
length of the word '" Official " is also less than
in the genuine, being 15mm. in place of
15|mm.

Id. Black — In a parcel of stamps purchased
recently we found a forgery of Id. black, the
only forgery of an English stamp we can
remember having seen. It was thin at the
back, and appeared to have a small crown
watermark, but we cannot be certain. Placed
side by side with a genuine copy, no one could
mistake its character.

The Id. black may occasionally be found on
slightly bluish paper.

Several Id, reds, chemically changed to black,
have been offered recently, and, we under-
stand, sold as this variety.

Fined for Selling Forgeries.
A German dealer has been fined 150
marks, or 30 day's imprisonment, for
having in December, 1893, offered to a
collector certain forgeries of Hanover as
genuine stamps. A Post Office official in
Hanover had sold the dealer an old die
for 40 marks, and from this he got a
Dresden printer to print off copies

204

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

J^otablo £tampa at Ruction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

£ i

. d

BUHL & Co.

izth June, 1896.

Mauritius, Post Paid, 2d.

blue, early, PENOE*

0 c

Peru, medio peso, rose ...

17 t

United States, Columbian,

complete set ...

12 t

CHEVELEY &. C

13th June, 1896.

Bahamas, id. lake, no

wmk.*

O C

Ceylon, ts. 9d. green, star,

perf.* ...

5 <■

Confederate, mobile 2c.

black

15 c

Mauritius, small fillet, 2d.,

pair

7 c

Nevis, 4d. rose*

5 <

Switzerland, Basle 2jr.*...

5 <

Ditto, 1850, ior. cross-

framed

0 c

United States, 1856, 90c.

blue*

6 c

24^/z June, 1896 (at Manchester).

British Guiana, 1853, ic.

brown-red*

7 t

Ceylon, 8d. brovvn, imperf.

0 c

Ditto, 9d. violet-brown,

imperf.

0 (

Ditto, 9d. ochre-brown,

star, perf.*

10 (

Dominica, is. carmine,

C.A.*

France, ifr. orange

Great Britain, 6d. octa-

gonal, pair* ...
Gambia, is. green

Gibraltar, first issue, is.

brown ...

Mauritius, Post Paid, id.,

ear y ...

Ditto, 2d. medium early,

PENOE

Ditto, 2d. early

£ s. d

Nevis, 4d. rose* ... ...400

Ditto, 4d. orange, litho* 7 10 c

Ditto, 6d. grey, litho.* 13 10 o

Newfoundland, 6d. orange* 70c

New South Wales, Sydney

View 2d., " Crevit "

omitted ... ... 3 10 c

PUTTICK & SIMPSON,

i^th and i6tk June, 1896.

Azores, 1882, isor. blue ... 4 5
Brazil, 600 reis, sloping

figures 3 15

Cape of Good Hope, wood-
block, id. red* ... 8 5
Ditto, another, used ... 3 15
Fiji, 2d. on 12c. on 6c,

fancy V.R.* 6 o

India, 4d. blue and red,

dividing line*... ... 5 5

Mauritius, Post Paid, id.,

medium early... ... 5 15

Ditto, ditto, vert., pair 11 10
Ditto, ditto, 2d. deep

blue ... ... .. 19 o

Ditto, ditto, another,

light shade ... ... 9 10

Nevis, 6d. olive, litho * ... 7 16

Ditto, is. yellow-green 4 5
New Brunswick, 6d.

yellow ... ... ... 3 3

Oldenburg, second issue,

i/3gr. green 3 15

Sierra Leone, Jd. on zh

lilac, C.C., pair* ... 10 o
Spain, 1853, 2r. red ... 5 5

Switzerland, Basle, 2\x. ... 4 18
Zurich, 4r. perf. lines ... 17 5
Turks Islands, is. prune... 22 o
Virgin Islands, 6d. rose,

perf. 12, sheet of 25*... 26 o
Western Australia, 6d.

grey-bronze ... ... 3 3

Ditto, 6d. green, roul.

three sides* ... ... 317

■2nd July, 1896.

Naples, \t. arms, mended 10 1.0
Cape of Good Hope, wood-
block 4d. blue 3 7

Natal, first issue, 9d. blue 10 5
Barbados, Jd. on 4d. brown,

double surcharge* ... 3 o

Dominica, is. mauve C.A. 3 5
St. Lucia, star, 4d. blue,

pair 7 5

Ditto, star, 6d. green*... 3 12
Trinidad, 49I. grey, pin

perf., pair ... ... 10 10

Ditto, 6d. green, pin perf. 6 5

9 15
6 o

4 10

VENTOM, BULL&. COOPER

ijth June, 1896.

Barbados, id. on half 5s.,

pair

Canada, 6d purple-black,

perf.

Ditto, 7^d. green
Ditto, iod. blue on thick
Ditto, 2C. rose on ribbed 915
Cape of Good Hope, wood-
block, 4d 5 IO

Naples, \t. blue, cross ... 4 4
Natal, first issue, gd.blue,

on piece ... ... 24 o

Ditto, another .. 20 o

Nevis, 6d. green* ... ... 90

Oil Rivers, 5s. in violet

on 2d.* 3 J2

Ditto, 10s. in red on sd.*
St. Vincent, is. rose red,

star*
Switzerland, Basle, 2\x. ...

Trinidad, id. blue, litho...
Ditto, 6d. dark green,
perf. nij to 12*
United States, 1869, 24c.

inverted centre ... 23 10

Victoria, 5s., blue on yel-
low, pair ... ... 9 °

Wurtemburg, 70k., violet 3 10

7 5

•• 4

J^otices.

Editorial Commu n ications.— Articles of

special interest will be paid for. M.S. dealing with
particular points in an exhaustive manner will be most
welcome. As we wish to arrange matter in advance,
we shall be glad to hear from Specialists who are open
to write up their special countries.

All communications on Editorial matters should be
addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J. Nankivell,

28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Letters enclosing valuables
should be registered.

Subscriptions.— The Philatelic Record and
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Buhl & Co., Limited, ij Queen Victoria Street,
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Advertisements must be received not later than the 15th of the month for publication in the next issue.

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News.

AUGUST, 1896.

Qditorial J^otes.

HILATELY stands very badly in need of a philatelic M.P. to look
after the serious interests of stamp collecting. The permanent
officials of the Post Office, whose favourite occupation is the har-
rassing of the public in every possible direction, have latterly turned
their attention to the worrying of stamp dealers. They seem to
have conceived the idea of successfully throttling the industry in
this country, and the possibility is that they will do it serious injury if some
philatelic M.P. does not rise to the occasion and expose the absurdity of the
proceedings. The seriousness of the position will be apparent to anyone when
._ . we state that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of stamp

St T d dealers in this country ; that the leading firms have a working
capital, each, from ^10,000 up to ^100,000 ; that in several
instances there are large staffs of clerks ; that dealers, travellers, and collectors
visit this country regularly from the European capitals and from America to
make purchases. Many of our stamp-dealing firms have purchasing agents in
ajl the great capitals of the world ; and so great is this purchasing trade on
behalf of stamp collectors, that many small countries would be absolutely
bankrupt but for their participation in the benefits of the stamp trade. Foreign
buyers candidly admit that London is incomparably the best source of supply.
Yet, forsooth, even this flourishing industry, in which we admittedly distance
all competitors, is now to be harrassed and driven out of the country, because
some petty official has taken it into his head that the harmless illustrations
which have been an undisturbed feature of our stamp journals and catalogues
for more than thirty years, may, by some scamp, be used for the manufacture
of forgeries. Despite the fact that those illustrations have been used for over
thirty years in the promotion of the stamp trade, and that during those thirty
years not a single case can be cited of improper use of the illustrations, this
silly fiction of the danger of their some day being improperly used is now being
turned to account as an argument for driving this important and increasing
trade out of the country.

If there were any foundation for the fear vamped up by Post Office officials,
it would have found expression long ago in the stamp dealing trade itself, for
there is nothing so injurious to that trade as the danger which arises from the
production of forgeries ; so that in its own interests the stamp trade is bound
to discountenance anything and everything that may tend in the direction of
forgeries made easy. Therefore, the charge of the Post Office officials that the

206 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

stamp trade produce illustrations which may be used as forgeries is altogether
too far fetched an idea to warrant serious interference with a staple and estab-
lished industry in which we, as a country, still hold the premier position.

The extent and importance of the trade in stamps is not exhausted when
we enumerate the actual current business capital at stake. There is still to be
taken into account the money invested by collectors, which, in the case of one
English society alone, has been shown to exceed a quarter of a million sterling.
If the petty officials of our Post Office are allowed to give free play to their
peculiar whims and fancies this enormous investment, which at present is
regarded by those concerned as being as safe as Consols, would be considerably
imperilled.

Such fanciful danger as may exist can be rationally and effectually provided
for by licensing the privilege to illustrate to responsible parties. In other
countries freedom of illustration exists, and is never questioned. In Germany
stamp journals may even illustrate the current stamps of their own country,
whilst their law for dealing with forgeries is much more strict and effective
than it is with us. The illustration of postage stamps is a vital necessity to the
stamp trade. It supplies an absolutely necessary aid to collecting. Without
it the trade in this country would languish and probably flit eventually to
countries more tolerant to its essentials.

The young or junior collector is coming to the front at last,
oung w.^ ^e (janger that he may be pampered just a little too much.
In the past few years the specialist has been so much in
evidence that he has held undisputed sway over all catalogues and albums in
the matter of arrangement. His attention to minor varieties has resulted in a
mass of detail that has been the despair of junior and general collector alike.
Now it is proposed to change all that, and some of the reformers in their
enthusiasm would, apparently, after the manner of all too enthusiastic
reformers, like to make a clean sweep of the specialist and all his works. But
these hot bloods, who are mostly of the juvenile caste of speech and pen, will
learn in their own good time that the specialist is the main stay of philately in its
very best sense. We may herald the day of more active encouragement for the
collection of the simple normal issues of each country, without at the same
time playing the fool by scouting the continued devotion of specialists to the
deeper study of all that appertains to the pursuit. The junior collector, like
most other human beings, will gradually grow older, and with age and experience
will come the irresistible craving to specialise.

Meanwhile, we may note the trend of the new movement for the encourage-
ment of junior collecting. In New York a syndicate or company has been
formed for the publication of a journal devoted to the interests of the junior
stamp collector, and for the publication of catalogues and albums suited to his
needs. So far, so good. The idea of the new combination is one in the right
direction. Properly conducted it should result in giving an immense impetus
to collecting. But it will need some care and thought. Stamp collecting
should be an educational help in our best junior schools, and if it could be
freed of its too frequent connection with unscrupulous approval-sheet harpies,
it would, no doubt, be encouraged more often than it is.

We publish this month two articles bearing on the question of
ommemora lve ^ status 0f commemorative issues. Dr. Socolis contends that

the Olympian stamps should not be regarded as speculative.
He says they will be in use for six months, and that they were issued to
commemorate an international event. But it cannot be denied that they were

EDITORIAL NOTES. 20*

initiated and issued for the purpose of getting the funds for the celebration of
that international event, mainly out of stamp-collectors' pockets. Therefore,
they were essentially a speculation in that direction. Their extended use is an
after thought, and will not blind stamp collectors. Then Dr. Socolis points out
that the Columbian set of U.S. stamps was a similar commemorative issue, and
that it has nevertheless escaped condemnation by the S.S.S.S. Quite so ; and
for the very sufficient reason that the action of the S.S.S.S. has not been made
retrospective. The Columbians have never come up for decision. If Greece
had withdrawn its ordinary issues and put the Olympians entirely in their place,
there could then have been no objection to the series as a commemorative one,
even though the limitation was made to the year of commemoration, as in the
case of the Columbians.

Mr. Basset Hull endeavours to cool what he terms the cheerful optimism that
is abroad that the Postal Union Administrations may help in the campaign
against speculative stamps, and he points out that there are certain difficulties
in the way ; that the regulations do not admit of such cavalier treatment of the
adhesive postals, and that nothing can be done until the next Convention.
Just so. We are all perfectly aware of that fact. Our hope is centred on the
next Convention ; and our cheerfulest optimism is based upon the solid fact that
that Convention will be most influentially asked to set its ban upon
commemorative issues.

The time for the making of Catalogues is once more approach-

The making {ngf and we would once more urge our point in favour of some

of consideration being extended to the young collector in the

Catalogues, arrangement of the lists. Our plan, or suggestion, is simple in

the extreme ; and it has the advantage that whilst it will serve

the interests of the young collector, it will not abate one jot from the practice

of including in the Catalogues all the leading varieties that are so dear to the

heart of the Specialist. We suggest to the Catalogue-makers that they should

give the normal issues of each country in ordinary type, but print the

" Varieties " in a very much smaller type. This plan would draw a distinct,

practical, and useful boundary line between the fields of Junior collecting

and Specialising. It would remove the difficulty of the availability of the

ordinary Catalogue for the purposes of Junior collecting. The one Catalogue

would then be rendered serviceable for all classes of collectors.

Eveiy year we are overloading the ordinary Catalogue with minor varieties,
and making the task of collecting on the part of the junior collector more
and more perplexing. There is no necessity for this state of things. Each
class of collectors can be equally well served in the one Catalogue by the
simple distinction of type that we suggest. Of course we are aware that
our plan will relegate some of the highest priced stamps to small print ;
but what of that ? They will be none the less valuable to their devotees
for that little idiosincracy.

^G^S^S)^

208 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

By Dr. jur. C. S. Socolis, Athens.

HE S.S.S.S. has declared these stamps to be speculative, and in
consequence most philatelists, principally in England, do not collect
them. As a member of this Society I can only submit to their
decision, but I hope a few words on this subject will not be out of
place.

To speak the truth, the Olympian stamps are not speculative,
at least I do not consider them as such. The expression " speculative " is
very vague, considering that this word has never been properly denned. What
is speculative ? The Society says, a stamp that is not necessary. But who has
to show that a stamp is not necessary ? The Society ? Then a state has to
depend on the Society. By a state ? Then without any doubt an issue is
necessary, because the state that issues it wants it, and in consequence believes
it to be necessary. This is the way in which the S.S.S.S. proceeds ; nothing
definitive is put forward. The expression " speculative " should be explained
and defined very clearly.

The set of Olympian stamps will be in use during six months, and was
issued to commemorate an international event. For the same reason the
Columbian set was issued by the United States. Why was not this set declared
speculative ? In accordance with the tenets of this Society this set was not
necessary, but yet it was not declared speculative. Why ? Is it because it was
issued during a whole year ? In that case it would be the length of circulation
of a set of stamps, that would make them either speculative or not, and then
this time should be fixed. The Olympian stamps appeared exactly under the
same conditions as the Columbians of the United States, with the exception of
the time, which was twelve months in the latter case, whereas it was only six
months for the Olympian stamps.

Besides, none of the other stamps which have been declared speculative by
the Society resemble in any way the Greek issue. As a rule a limited quantity
is printed and sold at the post offices during one, two, or three days, then the
sale stops, but the circulation continues. On the other hand, in Greece a large
quantity of stamps have been printed, and are sold at all post offices until
October. As the value of 60 lepta, and later on those of 40 lepta and
1 drachma were sold out, a new quantity of these three were ordered to be
printed. These are sold now, and the speculators cannot do anything. It was
believed a difference would be found in the second printing of the 40 and 60
lepta and the 1 drachma stamps was counted upon, but the Hotel de la Monnaie,
in Paris, where these stamps were printed, took good care that nothing of the
sort happened, and the stamps of the second printing have the identical colours
of those of the first printing.

I cannot see therefore the reason why the S.S.S.S. consider the Olympian
stamps speculative. The only danger may have been occasioned by a paragraph
which appeared in the last number of the Revue Philalelique, where it was stated
that the Greek government would sell the remainders of this issue at reduced
prices as soon as the time stated had elapsed. But there need not be any fear
of that. It is well known there is still a large stock of old stamps in the Greek
treasury, but none have ever been sold at any price or to anyone. These will be
burned some time or other in accordance with a fixed rule. So that if any
stamps of the Olympian set did remain, which I do not believe, having regard

EARLY ISSUES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 209

to the immense sale these stamps have had and still have, they will be burned
or remain in stock like the others. Besides, it is the first time that Greece has
issued a commemorative set of stamps. Occasions have not been wanting for
such issues, for instance the inauguration of the canal through the Isthmus of
Corinth, &c. &c, but Greece would only issue such stamps for an event that
was entirely out of the common, and international like the Olympian games.

Qarly Jssuqs of TJQestem ®/%Tzstralia.

By Lipman E. Hush.

(.Concluded from page 181).

Y a notice inserted in the Gazette in January 31st, 1884, a reduced
rate of postage came into force, viz. — that of one half-penny for news-
papers addressed to the other Australian Colonies or New Zealand
This rate was chargeable on and after February 1st, and this must
be taken as the earliest date of issue.

Provisional Issue.

The id. of the Eighth Issue was surcharged ^d. in red, giving —

(a) perf. 12, Jd. on id. yellow.

(b) perf. 14, ^d. on id. yellow.

There are many minute differences of the surcharge, the bars being of
varying degrees of thickness and the tail of the 2 has all manner of shapes.

The surcharge is done with a dull ink. I have met with forgeries of this
surcharge in which the overprint was done with a bright glossy ink.

In May, 1885, the supply of half-penny stamps from England came to
hand.

Design : Swan swimming to left in oval ; ornaments at sides enclosed in
parallel columns ; arabesques filling corners between oval and sides.

Inscription : Top, Western Australia ; bottom, Postage One Half-Penny.

Watermark Crown and C A., perf. 14. Half-penny green (shades).

No doubt the extra call upon the Penny stamps made a provisional issue
necessary, and this time the Threepence stamp of 1872 was surcharged id. in
green.

Wmk. Crown and C.C., perf. 14.
id. on Threepence green on red-brown, brown variety,
id. on Threepence green on red-brown, brown.

This is a distinct variety occurring on the whole of the bottom row of the
sheet.

There are many minor varieties in the sheet, chiefly differing in the serifs
of the 1.

Ninth Issue.

In 1889 the colours of some of the values underwent a change, giving us—
Wmk. Crown and C.A., perf. 14.
id. pale carmine, rose.
2d. gray, blue-gray, slate
4d. red-brown, pale brown.
The Twopence is a scarce stamp unused, and the Fourpence is scarce used
or unused.

210 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Tenth Issue.

In 1890 there were issued four stamps of a new type, followed in 1892 by
two others, and by one in 1893.

These comprise the present issue of Western Australian stamps. Two new
values are introduced 2jd. and $d.

In the One Penny stamp the swan is on an octangular ground. The
inscription at top is Western Australia; bottom, Postage One Penny.

In the Twopence Stamp the Swan is in arc oval, the inscription is in a
band surrounding the central design, and is above, Western Australia ; below,
Postage Twopence.

The design of the other values is Swan swimming to left in oval.

Inscription in band, above, Western Australia ; below, value.

There is no indication of the nature of the label in the higher values.

The list is as follows, the dates are the dates of issue : —

Wmk. Crown and C.A., /erf, 14.

id. carmine, 1890.

2d. pearl-grey (shades), 1890.

2jd. blue, 1892.

4d. brown, red-brown, 1890.

5d. olive-yellow, bistre, 1892.

6d. mauve-violet, 1893.

is. olive-green, 1890.

Another dearth of one-penny stamps occurred in 1893; and again, the
threepence of 1872 was pressed into service, being surcharged one-penny in
green in small capitals.

Provisional Issue.

Wmk. Crown and C.C., perf 14.
ONE PENNY in Green on Threepence brown, red-brown.

Either having used up his stock of 3d. stamps on C.C. paper, or for the
benefit of Philatelists, the Postmaster-General found it necessary to print the
above surcharge on the 3d. on C.A. paper, adding to our list.

Wmk. Crown and C.A., perf. 14.
ONE PENNY in green on Threepence brown.

At the end of last year (1895) it was found that the stamps of the value of
one half-penny were running very low, and " further supplies were cabled for
to England." The authorities desired it not to be known, and thus it was
probably that it was published as news in this country. The Threepence of
1872 was again, and, I think, finally pressed into service being surcharged
half penny in red. The overprint not being sufficiently distinct they were
overprinted a second time in green, only 90 stamps were so treated, the
remaining provisionals (11,910) had to be satisfied with a single overprint.

Wmk. Crown and C.C, perf. 14.
Half-penny in red and green on Threepence.
Half-penny in green on Threepence.

The demand for provisionals had not died out when the fresh batch of
ordinary stamps arrived, and the Postmaster, for reasons best known to himself,
had further provisionals surcharged. (Un)fortunately these are on Crown and
C.A. paper ; but, perhaps, this will not be noticed by the Postal Union officials,
for whom they are said to have been printed.

Since the above provisional there has been issued : —

Wmk. Crown and C.A., perf. 14.
Threepence, dark brown.

A PERMANENT PRINTED ALBUM.

211

By Edward J. Nankivell,

ordinary
volumes,
Various

HE great need of the general collector is a Permanent Printed

Album. The specialist prefers blank leaves which he can arrange

as he pleases. But the ordinary collector is, generally speaking,

a collector pure and simple, and not a deep student. Therefore,

he likes his pages arranged in such a manner that he has nothing

to do but get the stamps and hinge them in their places. The

printed album soon goes out of date and requires supplementary

which are open to the objection that they split up the collection.

attempts have been made to provide the much needed permanent

Gambia.

1866.

Impei-f.

No Watermark.
4d., brown.
6d., blue.

1874.

Imperf.

Wmk. Crown ^ C.C.

4d., brown.

6d., blue.

1S80.

Per/.

Wmk. Crown 8f C.C.

Ad. yellow.

Id., mar one.

2d., rose

3d., pale blue.

4d , brown.

fid., blue.

Is., green.

1887-88.

Per/.

Wmk. Crown $■ C. C.

Ad., green.

Id., carmine.

2d , orange.

2Ad., blue.

od., grey.

4d., brown.

6d., olive green.

Is., mauve.

printed album. Extra blank leaves have been tried, but somehow the
countries for which blank leaves have been provided have done nothing
towards helping the unfortunate collector to fill them, while countries which
seemed to need no extra leaves have suddenly displayed an abnormal activity
in issuing stamps for which no provision had been made.

The difficulty in the way of providing a permanent printed album can,
however, be easily overcome. The practice of printing the catalogue of
issues on one page and numbered spaces on the opposite page must be
abandoned, and the pages must be arranged as shown in our diagram. These
pages are intended to be printed as loose sheets after the manner of an
ordinary album with movable leaves. Under such an arrangement a publisher

212 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

would sell the leaves at so much each, and a collector could make up his album
of all countries, or only of such countries as he cared to select. It would
avoid the necessity of collecting everything or leaving ugly blank pages. It
would enable a collector to add new issues to any extent. He might be
provided with extra blank leaves and write in the new issues himself, or buy
them in neat printed slips from the publisher for pasting on the blank leaf.
Or he might, when a country had bulked up enough for an added printed leaf,
get the leaf from his publisher, remount his stamps on the new leaf, and insert
it in its proper place.

Some such arrangement as this is a growing necessity, and, if adopted, it
will surely settle many album difficulties. I throw out the suggestion as one
who has given considerable attention and study to the album question, and as
one who believes that the general collector sorely needs the freedom of choice
which this plan would give him.

postage Stamps of Jcoland.

[From the "Philatelic World."]

C ELAND has probably not taken the fancy of collectors very much by
reason of its very simplicity. It has not sinned enough to be
interesting, nor multiplied varieties with the rapidity of many
equally small states which require the formation of a special society
for their correction.

The philatelic history of Iceland ought to be looked upon by such
a society as a happy one, but by many collectors it will be pronounced as
domestically tame. Still even in a well ordered household there are always
to be found certain ups and downs which disturb the peace, and the study of
Iceland's philatelic household will shew sufficient variety to make it interesting.

It was not until 1873 that this dependency of Denmark, with its popula-
tion of 70,000, began to issue postage stamps, and that issue might have
continued to this day but for the fact that three years later the currency of the
country was changed from skilling to aur.

Moens gives the date of the first issue as 1st January, 1873, and it
included the 2sk. blue, 45k. carmine, 8sk. brown, and i6sk. yellow. The
3sk. grey was not issued until the March following. The watermark in all
Iceland stamps is the Danish crown.

From careful measurement of a considerable number of stamps, I find
that the 2sk. measures 13^ vertically and 14 horizontally. This agrees with
Senf, in his catalogue, who heads the list with the figures 14 X 13^, but makes
no mention of a 12-J perforation,

The 3sk. I have only found perf. 12 J, but Major Evans gives it perf. 13^
as well.

The 4sk. exists in both perforations, but the 12 J is very much the scarcer
of the two.

The 8sk. I have only found 13^ x *4«

The ibsk. is found in both, but the small perforation is much rarer than
the other.

Of the two official stamps the 4sk. green is perforated in both gauges, but
of the smaller perforation I have seen only one specimen.

The 8sk. lilac I find perforated only 13I x 14.

POSTAGE STAMPS OF ICELAND. 213

These skilling stamps shew hardly any varieties of shade ; the 8sk. official
being the only one, with dark and pale shades of lilac.

All these stamps are much scarcer used than unused. The population of
the country is small, and the communication with other countries intermittent.
The sudden change to the New Currency in 1876, doubtless left a consider-
able remainder of the old issue, unused, in hand.

The new stamps were issued in July, 1876, and consisted of the 5 aur. blue,
6 aur. grey, 10 aur. carmine, 16 aur. brown, 20 aur. mauve, 40 aur. green.
These were all perforated 13^ X 14, with the addition that the 5 aur. blue was
also issued, perf. i2j. These latter seem to be not quite so numerous as
those with normal perforation.

In July, 1882, the 3 aur. yellow was added and the colours of the 5, 20 and
40 aur. changed to green, blue and lilac respectively.

The 50 aur. carmine and blue, and the 100 aur. lilac and brown, were
issued in 1892.

Of the official stamps in the new currency, the 10 aur. blue, 16 aur.
carmine, 20 aur. green were issued in July, 1876 ; the 5 aur. brown was added
in March, 1878, and the 3 aur. yellow in July, 1882. There appear to be no
varieties of perforation.

All the stamps of these later issues shew greater varieties of shade than
the skilling series. This is probably due to the longer period of their exis-
tence, but partly also to a change in the composition of the ink, which appears
latterly to be of a fugitive (? aniline) nature.

The 6 aur. is found with a very clear impression in light grey, but some-
times it appears quite dark, and the impression is smudged. It has been
suggested to me that this may be due either to too much ink, or to the paper
being damp at the time of printing. Anyhow, the contrast is striking.

The 10 aur. shews very clearly the two kinds of ink mentioned above ; so
also does the 20 blue, and the difference is much more marked under
artificial light.

The 16 aur. shews hardly any varietv of shade ; while on the other hand
the 20 aur. mauve has two very distinct shades, one being light and more or
less faded looking, the other is dark, almost violet, with a clear impression.
These latter I guess to have been issued last, as I have seen more of them
unused.

The 40 aur. green varies but little, while the 40 mauve has been issued in
(? first) an ordinary mauve, and then in quite a reddish-mauve. The second
5 aur. is found in dark and light green, and also with revised watermark.

Of the official stamps, the 10 aur. blue is the only one I possess with
much contrast of colour, some are light and some deep ultramarine. In
this case too the character of the ink seems to have been changed.

Of the postmarks on the Iceland stamps the majority are naturally those
of Reykjavik, the capital. The older postmarks are in Roman capitals, the
latter ones in thin block capitals.

In many cases the stamps have been cancelled at Edinburgh and Leith,
where the Iceland mail steamers call, and whence there is a regular service in
summer, and not unfrequently a Danish postmark, say of Copenhagen, may
be observed — " Ship's letter" too is not uncommon.

All the stamps of the skilling issue except the 3sk. grey exist in an imper-
forate state, the 4sk. being the scarcest. They all have the watermark, but it
is uncertain whether they are merely " specimen " copies, or proofs, or if they
were accidentally issued in this way — I have never seen one used.

Of the later issue I possess the 5 blue, 6 grey, 16 brown, 20 light mauve
and 40 green imperforate, and of the official stamps the 10, 16 and 20 aur.
but there may be others.

2i4 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

postal YJLnion and @omm,emorativQS<

By A. F. Basset Hull.

EVERAL philatelic journals have recently published paragraphs
regarding the attitude of certain Postal Union Administrations
towards commemorative issues, and with cheerful optimism the
writers look to the Union as a very probable ally in the campaign
against speculative stamps.

At present, however, there are certain difficulties in the way of
those countries which desire to treat commemorative issues with a limited
period of validity as ab initio invalid. The detailed Regulations of the
Principal (Vienna) Convention do not admit of such cavalier treatment of
the adhesive postals of any Union administration ; and until the next
Convention meets nothing definite or legal can be done to check the flow of
such labels, so long as they are duly recognised by the country of issue, and
notified to the other countries in the Union.

With regard to post cards the case is different. Here the detailed
regulations are, more or less, definite on at least one point, and that is the
inadmissibility on the face of the card of anything not strictly relative to its
proper scope. Regulation XVI. provides that "1(1) Post cards must be sent
unenclosed. The face is reserved for the postage stamps, for indications
relating to the postal service (registered, acknowledgment of delivery, etc.) and for
the address, which may be written in manuscript or be shewn upon a gummed
label not exceeding 10 centimetres by 5. Moreover, the sender has the
option of indicating his name and address on the face or on the back, either
in writing or by means of a stamp, autograph stamp, or any other typo-
graphical process. Engravings or advertisements may be printed on the back.
Except stamps for prepayment, and the labels mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 6 of
the present regulation, it is forbidden to join or attach any article whatsoever.

" (2) Post cards may nor exceed the following dimensions : length, 14
centimetres ; width, 9 centimetres.

" (4) The postage stamp representing prepayment appears in one of the top
corners of the face, as should also any supplementary stamp which may be
added.

" (6) The sender of a post card with reply paid may indicate his name and
address on the face of the reply half either in writing or by affixing a label to it.

" (9) Post cards not fulfilling so far as regards dimensions, external form, &c,
the conditions laid down by the present regulation for this class of corre-
spondence are treated as letters."

The commemorative card issued by Italy in 1895 was distinctly in contra-
vention of sub-section (4) of Regulation XVI. in that the stamp was placed on
what to all intents and purposes was the back of the card. The elaborate
design on the face might be considered as contravening that portion of sub-
section 1 which reserves the face of the card for indications relating to the
postal service.

It does not appear satisfactorily clear, however, that the regulation was
intended to forbid the printing by the issuing office of any design or
ornamentation in addition to the mere stamp and directions. The words
" join or attach" seem to relate to the addition of anything previously dis-
connected from the card, such as an extra piece of card or paper, money
order advice, stamps not intended for prepayment, &c, and not to anything

U.S. REPRINTS AND RE-ISSUES. 215

printed upon the face. Certainly the permission accorded to the sender to
stamp or write his name and address on the face might be taken as the limit of
extraneous addition, and this is apparently the view taken by those administra-
tions which have refused to accept the Boris commemorative cards of Bulgaria
as strictly complying with Regulation XVI. The vignette or portrait of that
youthful convert cannot by any stretch of the terms of the regulation be
brought within the limits of an " indication relating to the postal service,"
hence the cards were by some countries treated as insufficiently prepaid letters,
and taxed accordingly.

It is perhaps difficult to draw a hard and fast line between the " indications"
strictly permissible and those which render the card liable to treatment as a
letter. Can an ornamental border be considered either as an "indication" or
as part of the stamp for pre-payment ? Further, how far does the addition
of the delicate tracery of volcano, palm tree, and steamer on the cards of
Nicaragua and Salvador contravene the regulation ? The waratah on the New
South Wales card was equally as inadmissible as the vignette of Boris, and yet
no exception was ever taken to that floral emblem. Certainly it has been
recently removed, but not on account of international objections.

It may be necessary to await the next convention before anything definite
can be decided with regard to the post card question even, but it seems that
the threatened treatment of the Greek adhesives issued in commemoration of
the Olympic games is indefensible from a strictly Postal Union point of view.

^§€§3^*

US- Reprints «nd frAnm.

By John N. Luff.

\_From the "-American Journal of Philately, ."]
->=£<-

HESE are the days of specialism. Of this there can be no doubt. Even

general collectors usually give attention to minor varieties in the stamps

of one or more countries. In this part of the world this attention is

naturally directed towards the stamps of the United States. A very

general interest has been manifested in the secret marks, papers, and

printings of the 1872-82 issues and in other varieties which have recently

been discovered. All classes of collectors, from beginners to the most

advanced, are seeking these varieties and finding the supply not equal to the demand.

jS or is the interest confined to this country alone, for in Europe and all over the world

the demand for the stamps of the United States is large.

With this interest in the recently discovered varieties has come an increased
interest in many other things which are closely related to the regular issues of our
stamps. Collectors are adding proofs and essays to their collections, and in time I
expect to see this develop into a very interesting branch of our pursuit. " Specimen "
stamps also receive attention from those who are most thorough. But most of all
has interest developed in the sets of reprints and re-issues prepared by our Government
about the time of the Centennial Exposition.

I have frequently been asked why the 56th edition of the Standard Catalogue does
not list the reprints of the 1847 and 1857 issues, while it does those of later issues.
It is because the former are reprints and the latter re-issues, and the 06th catalogue
does not list any reprints. Allow me a few words of definition, for I find many
collectors do not clearly draw the line between " re- issue " and " reprint." Eeprints
are printings of stamps which are not available for postage, either because the original
stamps have been declared obsolete or because the reprints themselves are not allowed
to do postal duty. Ee-issues are printings of stamps which are available for postage,

2i 6 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

though the originals may have been replaced by a later issue. In 1861 the stamps of
the 1847, 1851, and 1857 issues were declared obsolete and of no further postal value,
in order to prevent any use of the large quantity in the hands of postmasters in the
disloyal states ; hence any subsequent printings of these stamps are reprints. But
the stamps of 1861 and all later issues are yet available for postage, and this applies
to all printings of them, made at whatever date. Therefore the 1875 printings are to
be called re-issues.

I trust a brief description of the 1875 printings and comparison with the originals
will prove not uninteresting.

Eeprints of the 1847 issue. It has been the custom for many years to call these
two stamps government counterfeits. I consider this a misnomer. It is a well known
fact that the plates of this issue did not belong to the government, but remained in
the hands of the contractors, Messrs. Eawdon, "Wright, Hatch, and Edson. But the
dies were government property. At the time it was decided to reprint, these dies
were brought out and found to be somewhat the worse for wear and rust. They were,
therefore, recut to a small extent and from them new plates were made. Thus the
stamps are impressions from new plates made from retouched dies. They are reprints,
and in no sense counterfeits. We might as well claim that an impression from a new
plate of the current issue is a new issue. I think a little careful study of the stamps
will satisfy anyone that my statements are correct, and that the slight differences
between the originals and reprints are merely the result of recutting. "We might
certainly expect more pronounced differences had the dies been engraved anew.

The originals of these stamps are usually on a thin crisp bluish wove paper, much
like the ordinary note paper in use at that date. They also exist on thin yellowish
white wove paper. The reprints are on a thicker coarse bluish wove paper of deeper
colour than that of the originals. They are also found on bluish hand-made paper,
and the five cents on horizontally laid paper. The colours of the originals and reprints
differ decidedly. They are —

ORIGINALS. REPRINTS.

5 cents : orange brown, red brown . . yellow brown, red brown

brown, black brown . . . . . . bistre brown

10 cents : deep black, gray black . . . . . . slate black

Owing to recutting the reprints vary somewhat from the originals. The point
most readily noticed in the reprints is the indistinctness of the letters " R. w. H. & E."
at the bottom of each stamp. In the originals these letters are very clear. In the
original five cents, the left side of the white shirt frill touches the frame of the oval
opposite the top of the " E " of " Five " while in the reprint it touches the oval near
the top of the figure "5." In the reprint of the ten cents, there is a sleepy look about
the eyes, the line of the mouth is straighter, and a strongly defined curl in the hair
near the right temple has been smoothed out.

Eeprints of the 1857 issue are readily distinguished by the perforation, which
gauges 12, instead of 15 as in the originals. The paper is also very white, and there
is a generally new look about the stamps. The colours are —

ORIGINALS.

EEPRINTS.

1 cent :

blue, dull blue,

dark blue

. sky blue

3 cents :

rose, brown red, Indian red

scarlet

5 cents

brown, red brown, brick red

. orange brown

10 cents :

■ yellow green

blue green

12 cents

full black

greenish black

24 cents

gray lilac

dull violet

30 cents :

red orange . .

yellow orange

90 cents :

marine blue

dark marine blue

There seems to have been no attempt to imitate the colours closely, especially the
scarcer sha.des of the 5 cents. On the original plates of several of the values the
stamps were set so closely together that they would have been seriously damaged
if perforated by a machine of the coarse gauge in use since 1861. To obviate this
difficulty new plates were made for the 1, 3, 10, and 12 cents values. On these
plates the designs are set further apart, to the improvement of the appearance of
the stamps. The 1 cent has the full ornaments, so rarely seen on the originals.
The 3 cents has the outer lines at top and bottom. None of these new plates
have any imprint or number, and they have only one hundred stamps eacli, while
the originals have two hundred each. The reprints of the 5 cents are made from

C7.S. REPRINTS AND RE-ISSUES.

217

the plate on which projecting ornaments at top and bottom of the stamps are
cut away, and present the two varieties of ornaments partly and entirely removed.

The re-issue of the 186] set can only be distinguished from the original printings
by the whiteness of the paper, brightness and freshness of the colours and sometimes
the crackly white gum. The originals had a brownish gum. The re-issues were
sometimes sold without gum.

The colours are —

ORIGINALS. REPRINTS.

1 cent : pale blue, deep blue, chalky blue . . . . pale ultramarine

2 cents : gray black . . . . . . . . . . deep black

3 cents : pink, rose, brown rose, scarlet . . . . Indian red
5 cents : yellow, brown, red brown, black brown . . pale brown

10 cents : yellow green, dark green . . . . . . blue green

12 cents : gray black . . . . . . . . . . hard deep black

1 5 cents : soft full black . . . . . . . . . . hard deep black

24 cents : red lilac, lilac, gray lilac . . . . . . dark violet

30 cents : pale orange, orange . . . . . . . . brown orange

90 cents : pale blue, deep blue . . . . . . marine blue

No attempt was made to reproduce the pink and scarlet 3 cents or the yellow and
red brown 5 cents.

The re-impressions of the 1869 issue have the bright colours, white paper, and
crackly white gum, characteristic of the 1875 printings. They also differ from the
originals in the absence of the grill. The very rare ungrilled originals may be
distinguished from the re-issue by their smooth brown gum, and by slight differences
in the colours. Of the 15 cents only the variety without the frame and the diamond
above the central picture was re-issued. For this a new plate was used, at least I
have not so far found any originals printed from this plate. In the originals there
can be seen behind the picture a ruling of faint brown lines, making a band about
lmm. wide. In the re-issue these lines are omitted, except one which crosses, on a
level with the top of the picture, the space formerly occupied by the diamond. The
colours vary but little.

ORIGINALS.

1 cent : brown orange

2 cents : pale brown, dark brown . .

3 cents : ultramarine
6 cents : ultramarine

10 cents : bright orange

12 cents : dark yellow green

1 5 cents : pale brown and pale blue . .

24 cents : yellow green, green and violet

30 cents : carmine and pale ultramarine

U0 cents : gray black and carmine

REPRINTS.

dark brown orange

brown

ultramarine

pale orange

dark blue green

dark brown and dark blue

blue green and violet

carmine and dark ultramarine

deep black and deep carmine

I have never been able to understand the necessity or reason for a special printing
of the 1873 issue, since, save the few values which were obsolete, the stamps of that
issue were in use at the time. The only explanation which I can suggest is the
desire to keep the manufacture and sale of these special sets of stamps entirely
separate from the regular business and accounts of the Post Office Department. On
the other hand, the regular stock of department stamps seems to have been drawn
upon to supply the "specimen" sets sold at the same time as the reprints and
re-issues. It may be, however, that the "specimens" first sold were specially
printed for the purpose — from some peculiarities of paper and perforation I am
inclined to this opinion — and that the " specimens " with gum and apparently from
regular stock may have been issued in later years and under a changed system of
accounts. Whatever the reason, it is certain that a special printing of the then
current issue was made. This included the 2 cents vermilion and the 5 cents
blue (Taylor) of 1875. It is extremely difficult to distinguish the stamps of this
printing from those of the regular issue. The colours are almost identical. Only
those who have given long and careful study to sets of the stamps known to belong
to this printing and who have « keen eye for colour values can tell the majority of
them from the regular issue. They have the freshness which is characteristic of the
companion sets and the appearance of careful workmanship, though many of them
are from worn plates. They are on the peculiarly white, hard, crisp paper used for

218 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

the reprints and re-issues. Occasionally one has the crackly white gum, but most of
them have none. A notable feature of this set is that the perforations are seldom
perfect. The stamps were not separated in the usual way by tearing them apart,
but were cut apart with scissors and very carelessly. As a result the perforations are
usually much mutilated and frequently the design. Many of the "specimen"
department stamps show the same ill-treatment, and this is one of the points
indicative of a special printing of those stamps. The colours, as nearly as they can
be described, are—

ORIGINALS. REPRINTS.

1 cent . pale ultramarine, chalky blue . . . . deep ultramarine

2 cents : yellow brown, brown, black brown . . dark brown

3 cents : dark green, blue green deep blue green

6 cents : carmine, dull rose brownish rose

7 cents : vermilion, orange vermilion . . . . carmine vermilion
10 cents : brown, yellow brown . . . . . . dark brown

12 cents : violet, black violet dark gray violet

to cents : dull orange bright orange

24 cents : purple dull violet

30 cents : jet black, dull gray black . . . . clear gray black

90 cents : deep carmine, rose carmine . . . . dull carmine

2 cents : vermilion, orange vermilion . . . . carmine vermilion

5 cents : full blue, dark ultramarine . . . . clear pale blue

Of this set the 7, 12, and 24 cents were obsolete, and are properly called re-issues.
The 2 cents brown may well be placed under the same head, since, though it did not
become obsolete until July 1st, 1875, some three months after the first official notice
of the sale of reprints, the sale continued about ten years, and there is no pos-
sibility of separating the stamps sold before July 1st, 1875, from those sold after
that date, nor any reason for doing so, if it were possible. The balance of the
set are neither reprints nor re-issues, and I can find no more distinctive term for
them than "special printing."

I now wish to call your attention to a similar set of stamps which I think has
never been chronicled, and which is known to only a very few collectors. It is a set
of the 1873-75 stamps, printed on the soft porous paper used by the American Bank
Note Co. This paper was not used for our stamps before 1879, and the presence in
the set of the 2 cents brown, 7, 12, and 24 cents shows them to be re-issues.
Variations in colour mark the rest of the set as a special printing, similar to
that made by the Continental Bank Note Co. in 1875. I have here a letter, or
rather a printed form, from the Post Office Department, dated Feb. 1st, 1881,
which was sent to a purchaser with certain sets of reprints and " specimens." The
1870 set (it is thus officially termed) which accompanied this letter was the exact
duplicate of that I now show you. The 2 cents is a black brown, the 12 and
24 cents are slightly darker than in the re-issue by the Continental Bank
Note Co. and the thirty cents is a greenish black. The colours of the other values
are rather richer than those of the originals, but the differences are too slight to admit
of successful description. This printing was probably made in 1880. I believe these
sets to be of the most extreme rarity. I have seen only three of them complete,
though I have examined carefully many large collections.

It is very difficult to distinguish between originals and reprints of the Franklin
Carrier stamp, especially as some of the latter are said to have been printed on re-
mainders of the original paper. The colour of the originals is either a bright true
blue or a dull dark blue. That of the reprints is a dark marine blue, varying slightly
in tint. The impression of the originals is clear and fine, while the reprints are too
heavily inked and somewhat blurred. The reprints are also found on a thicker paper
of a duller and paler colour. These are usually called the second reprint (I donot
know on what authority) and it is possible that they also are the work of the American
Bank Note Co,

The reprints of the Eagle Carrier stamp were at first perforated, which readily
distinguishes them from the originals. They were afterwards issued imperforate and
can then be known by the absence of gum, white paper and rich dark blue colour.
The originals have brown gum and are either a dull greenish blue or an indigo blue.
These stamps are also found on the soft porous paper of the American Bank Note
Company in colour identical with that used for the 1875 reprints.

There seems to be at present a diversity of opinion on the question of reprints of
the Newspaper and Periodical stamps of 1865. We have been accustomed to consider

U.S. REPRINTS AND RE-ISSUES. 219

certain of the darker shades of these stamps as reprints. But evidence has la+ely been
supplied from official sources tending to prove that reprints of these stamps were
never sold.

We have also the testimony of a prominent dealer that, at the date the reprints
were made, there was on hand a large stock of originals of the two higher values.
Nevertheless, if it was thought necessary to make a special printing of the current set
of adhesives, I fail to see why reprints of the Newspaper stamps were not equally
desirable.

I wish at this point to call your attention to a set of these stamps which are
usually considered as proofs. This set consists of the three values, 5, 10, and
25 cents, all without the coloured border and all imperforate. They are on a
paper similar to, if not identical with, that used for other reprints. I have heard
that these exist in sheets of ten (not twenty, as were the originals) and that they
have neither imprint nor plate number, a peculiarity of other plates prepared for
making reprints to which I have already called attention. I am strongly inclined to
think these were intended to form part of the 1875 re-issue, but, for reasons not
known and probably not to be learned at this late day, they were never used for the
purpose. There is room for further investigation here, but we will have to leave the
subject until further information is at command. But, whatever the Continental
Bank Note Company may or may not have done, the American Bank Note Company
do not leave us in doubt as to their work. Here are two 5 cent stamps of this
series on the characteristic porous paper, used only by the latter Company, and
proving them to be reprints beyond question. I have never seen the other two
values on this paper and doubt their existence. Presumably the supply of remainders
of those values was more than sufficient for any demands.

There seems to be no information of value concerning the stamps supplied to
collectors to represent the 1875 issue of Newspaper and Periodical stamps. According
to the official circular they were to be sold ungummed and, since specimens fully
gummed might be bought at the Post Offices for the same price, it is not probable
that many were ordered from Washington. I have seen the values from 2 to 60
cents which, together with some reprints, were bought at the time. Those shown
herewith are in every way identical and I presume may be safely credited to the same
source. The paper is, as usual, very white, crisp, and hard, and the workmanship
excellent. The values from 2 to 10 cents inclusive are printed in clear gray black
and from 12 to 96 cents inclusive in soft pale rose. About the higher values
I know nothing. I doubt if any of this series were anything else than regular
stock without gum.

Last of all we come to the stamps for Postage Due. As they were not issued until
1879, we need not look for any among the reprints and re-issues supplied by the
Continental Bank Note Company. I recently purchased a set of these stamps from a
collection which contained an almost complete series of reprints and " specimens."
They are of a peculiar deep brown shade which I have not seen elsewhere and are
perfectly matched. Collectors know that it is almost impossible to make sets of these
stamps which are absolutely alike in tint. For these two reasons I think it is quite
probable that this set represents another special printing for the benefit of philatelists.

T trust I have proved to your satisfaction that reprints and re-issues were made
by the American Bank Note Compauy, and special printings by both the Continental
and American Companies. I also hope that specialists will think these stamps worthy
of their attention. They will certainly find that many of them are far from easy to

22o THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

ffievieuos.

U.S. Plate Number Catalogue.

J. M. Battels & Co.'s First Co?nplete Price Catalogue and Reference List of the
Plate Numbers of United States Adhesive Postage Stamps issued from 1847 to
1896. Published by /. M. Bartels & Co., 439, glh Street, N. W. Washington t
D.C., U.S. A. 50 cents.

The collection of plate numbers is one of the latest forms of Specialism
in the United States, and we should imagine that it is also one of the most
interesting and engrossing. Mr. Bartels' Catalogue and Reference List must,
therefore, be a very welcome addition to the very extensive literature that has
already grown up so rapidly around this new phase of collecting. The prices
of plate numbers of the first six issues are ominously conspicuous by their
absence. But commencing with the seventh issue every plate number is
priced, with the exception of the postage due and periodical stamps ; which
presumably are not saleable, at least not thus publicly.

Mr. Bartels, in his preface, tells us that many of the plate numbers of
the second, third, and fourth issues are practically unattainable. But by way
of encouragement we are informed that those issued since 1879 are a^
attainable. Most of the Bureau sheets show the plates on top, bottom, right
and left sides. Some people, he tells us, collect all positions, but as all plate
imprints are identically the same, Mr. Bartels, writing in an economical vein,
suggests that one plate number and imprint of each ought to be sufficient.

The Daily Stamp Item.

Volume I. fanuary 1st to March 3 is/, 1896. C. H. Mekeel Stamp and
Publishing Company, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.

Twelve months ago the idea of a daily paper exclusively devoted to stamp
collecting and dealing would have been scouted as a mad project, and yet
here we have not merely the first number, but the first volume of a brisk little
daily stamp paper. From cover to cover it is packed with items of interest
to collectors or dealers. We have only one fault to find with it, and that is
the absence of an Index. Such a mass of interesting and valuable matter
should have been rendered available for ready reference by the provision of
an index and continuous paging. This first vol. covers a period of three
months, so that a second vol. must be ready. We have not yet seen the
second vol., but we hope this serious want of an Index will have been met.

An Up-to-date Album.

Postage Stamp Album by Richard Senf Supplement No. VII. Containing all
issues {Stamps, Envelopes, Wrappers") from September, 1893, t° August, 1895.

This is a very useful and excellently printed and arranged supplement to
the Senf. Album. The arrangement is the same as the main work, and seems
to be fairly complete and up to date. The illustrations are very clear, and are
arranged in a very helpful manner for those who like them printed where they
must be covered by the actual stamp when obtained.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

221

Novelties and ^Discoveries.

S-. «-: ^ - S-- » ♦,. S-: ■«- *• ♦ -*S :«S -SX - ■ S-- »-i

The earliest information as to New Issues will be much appreciated by us, and will be duly credited
to the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our joreign correspondents can materially help us in this
direction. When possible, a specimen should accompany the information, and be addressed to the Editor,
Mr. Edwakd J. Nankivell, 28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon.

i§~:$- ■♦ :*.*;* •-- ~::~< * ^>J* r :»J:»i*.-

Argentine.— Mr. Abel Fontaine, of
Buenos Ayres, sends us samples of the
new issue of the current series on thinner
paper. It will be remembered th it the
current series is on stout paper. This
new series is on what we should term
medium paper. The new series is also
distinguished by a more clearly defined
watermark. Colours and values as before.

British East Africa.— We illustrate
the new issue of new design chronicled
by us in June (page 162).

British South Africa. -The Monthly

Journal gives the following as the quan-
tities printed of recently issued provi-
sionals : —

A dhesives.

id.

on 3d., green

and

grey ; 1,200 surcharged.

id.

on 4s., red

1,200 ,,

vi.

on 5s.,

3,000 ,,

*d.

, black (Cape

otG

H.) ; 24,000 ,,

rd.

rose (

) ; 36,000 ,,

2d.

brown (

„

) ; 18,000 ,,

vl.

, claret (

) ; 2,640 ,,

4d.

blue (

) ; 9,000 ,,

6d.

, violet (

) *. 3»96° »>

We have half a dozen high values of
the new design of the new engravers,
Perkins, Bacon, & Co., from Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co.

Adhesives.

2 - blue and green on buff
2, 6 brown and purple on yellow
3/- green and lilac on blue
4/- red and blue on green
5 ,'- red and greeu on white
10 - slate and carmine on rose

British Central Africa. — Messrs.

Whitfield King & Co. send us a double
surcharge of the " one penny " provi-
sional on 2d. red and olive, chronicled by
us in January last (p. 17). They explain

that this specimen is from the first sheet
printed, the printer having set the sur-
charge too high up, put the sheet on the
press a second time after altering the
position of the surcharge. They further
inform us that while these provisionals
were being printed, there being no Id.
stamps in stock, H. M. Commissioner and
Consul-General authorised the Post-
masters of Blantyre, Chiromo, and Zomba
to cut the 2d. stamp in two and use each
half as a penny stamp for postage on
newspapers, &c. These were only em-
ployed a day or two, and when the pro-
visionals were issued, no more split
stamps were allowed. Less than 50
were so used. They were cut straight
down the centra, and not diagonally.

Adhesive.
id. on 2d., red and olive; Double surcharge.

Canada.— Mr. J. M. Bartels in the
Daily Stamp Item says, he learns that a
new issue of Canadian adhesives will be
ready in September, and that the designs
are to be the same as the current 20c. and
50c.

Ceylon.— The following have been
changed in colour, the Post Card being
in the type of the 1885 2c.

Envelope.

2C. green on green, size 135 by 80 mm.

Post-card.

2C. brown-yellow on white, size 123 by 85 mm.

Chili— According to the T.P. there
exist two types of the Officially Sealed
stamps. The first has a portrait of the
President in circle and is inscribed
' Admistraction Principal de Correos '
— ' Kepublica de Chili ' — ' Valparaiso,'
and measures 39 by 27 mm. The second
has the head of Columbus and the name
of the town ' Santiago,' and measures
32 by 41 mm.

Adhesives.
O.S. — blue on yellow-green, Perf. 12, Type I.

— ,, greenish-black, ,, ,,

— ,, clear green ,, ,,
— brown on buff ,, ,,

— red-brown ,, Type II.

222

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Finland. — According to the Monthly
Circular the op , 20p., and 25p. have
now been issued with perf. 14. The
stamps issued with this new perforation
up to date, are —

Adhesives.
5p. green,
lop. rose.
2op. orange.
25P. blue.

Mexico. -The P.J.G.B. says the fol-
lowing Post Cards have been issued.
The ileur de lys at the sides have been
replaced by balls, and the Interior Cards
have three instead of two dotted lines for
the address.

An Official Card without stamp has
also been issued inscribed ' OBSERVA-
TOEIO METEOEOLOGICO CEN-
TEAL.' '

Post Cards.

2C. rose, formula rose on buff, 21 balls, Interior.
3c. brown, ,, ,, 20 balls, „

3C- >> ,, ,, 21 balls,

2C. rose, formula green on buff, 21 balls U.P.U.
3c. brown, „ „ 20 balls, „

3C- « )i ., (direceion), „

Off. P.C — black on grey.

Niger Coast.— We have the ^d. of
the current series from Messrs. Whitfield
King & Co „ in a much paler shade of
green.

Paraguay. — A correspondent in
Asuncion writes to us under date of June
24th, " In fifteen days there will be a
complete and entirely new series of
Paraguayan postage stamps, consisting
of lc, 2c, 4c, 5c, 7c, 10c, 14c, 15c,
20c, 30c, 40., 60c, 80c, 1 peso, and
5 pesos."

Messrs. Whitfield King & Co., send us
the new lc. in which the error " 1 cen-
tavos," is corrected to " 1 centavo."

Adhesive.
i centavo, grey.

Queensland.— Mr. W. Hadlow sends
us the 2|d. in a pink shade instead of
carmine.

Adhesive.
2^d. pink.

Russia. — The Timbre Paste chronicles
a copy of the 2k. of 1875, postmarked
10th July, 1880, with ground work
reversed.

Adhesive.
1875. 2k. red and black, inverted ground work.

Servia. — Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
send us the 1 dinar in new colour.

Adhesive.
t dinar, brown on blue.

Shanghai.— The publishers of the
Monthly Journal have a sheet of the
" ONE cent" on 20c, brown, the pro-
visional of 1893, the 11th and 12th
stamps upon which are surcharged
"half cent," as upon the 15c of the
same issue.

Adhesive.
£c., in blue, on 20c, brown ; crrot.

South Australia.— The A ustralian
Philatelist reports the 2s. with the
" O.S." surcharge in narrow capitals.

Service Stamp.
2s., carmine, narrozv "O.S."

Straits Settlements.— Selanyor. —
The Australian Philatelist chronicles the
following additional values for this State.

Adhesives.

25 c, green
2 dol. ,,

and carmine ; Crown and CA

3 ,,
10 ,, ,,

25 „ ,,

olive , , , ,
purple ,, ,,
orange ,, ,,

Spain. — Our publishers have shown
us the 5c. War Tax stamp of 1873,
printed in the colour of the 10c, i.e. blue.

Adhesive.
War Tax, 1873, 5c. blue, error.

Tasmania. — The Australian Phila-
telist reports the 9d. in liyht blue, wmk.
" tas" close type.

Adhesive..
oxL, light blue.

Tonga.— We quote the following from

the Monthly Journal :

The unfortunate Postmaster has been obliged
to issue the provisional ^d. stamps after all, but
the edition is, we understand, strictly limited,
and it is only by special favour that a few have
been supplied to others than those who required
them for actual postal use. Even these few
seem only to have been allowed to pass out of
the office after having been cancelled with a
neat postmark, which was carefully applied to
the centre of each block of four at 8 a.m. on
May 23rd.

The overprints upon the unfortunate stamp
are of a peculiarly complicated description ; it
was originally the 2d. of the type of 1892,
printed in blue, and overprinted vertically
" surcharge — 7id." in carmine, in two lines
reading upwards ; there is now added " Vaeua
oe beni," in black, vertically, reading down-
wards, and " Half — Penny — ," in violet, in two
lines horizontally.

Adhesive.
^d. in violet and black on 7Jd., in carinine on 2d. blue.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

223

Transvaal. — Several of our contem-
poraries chronicle the 5s. as having been
issued in the new colours. They have,
however, fallen into error; for no such
stamp has been issued ; indeed, it has
not yet been ordered. The only stamps
which have been issued in the new colours,
i.e. with labels of value in green, are
$<L, Id., 2£d., Is., and 2s. 6d. The 2d.,
3d., 4d., and 6d. values will soon be
issued, but the higher values, viz., 5s.,
10s., and £0 have not been ordered,
there still being a sufficient supply on
hand.

United States. — City Despatch Post;
Mr. Gregory, of New York, writing in
the Daily Stamp Item, says : —

Mr. Hunter has shown me a new discovery
in the line of U.S. locals. The City Despatch
Post, 3c. on white paper is well known and
not particularly scarce. Now, after more than
fifty years, a copy on crimson paper on the
original cover, with postmark carrying, is
found. This ranks in interest and value with
the greatest of recent discoveries.

According to the Philatelic Monthly
( "U.S.J the current 3c. has been issued
with triangle, type 3, i.e., with the
crossing lines removed from within the
frame lines of the triangular ornaments.

Adhesive.

3c. purple, triangle, type 3.

Uruguay. — More commemoratives !
On July the 18th special postage stamps
were issued to commemorate the unveiling
of a statue of Joaquin Suarez, who took
a leading part in the War of Independ-
ence. The stamps are three in number —
lc, 5c, and 10c. Samples of each have
been sent us by Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co. The stamps were to be on sale from
July 18th to August 25th only. The lc.
contains a portrait presumably of the
hero of the occasion, the 5c. has a full
length picture of the statue, and the 10c.
a full view of the statue and pedestal.
The central portion is printed in black in
each case, the colours being varied in the
fancy frame work. The stamps are ex-
quisitely engraved, and are evidently the
work of Messrs. Waterlow & Sons.

Adhesives.

ic, purple, brown and black
5c, pale blue and black
ioc , red and black

Western Australia— Our publishers
have had the 4d. blue of 1860 (Gibbons
type 4908), rouletted, in an unused pair.
This variety has been submitted to the

Expert Committee of the Philatelic
Society of London, and pronounced
genuine.

Adhesive.

i860. 4d., blue, rouletted.

Zanzibar.— The Philatelic Journal of
Great Britain says, there are three types
of the 2^ on 1 anna chronicled by us in
.June (p. 164), viz., the large 2 — 1st with
straight tail, 2nd with thick curly tail,
and 3rd (rarest) with thin curly tail.

The P. J. O. B. also states that some of
the New British East Africa stamps have
been borrowed and surcharged, and that
the 1 rupee India of the new design has
been surcharged. We find we have
omitted to chronicle the ia. green (India)
with blue surcharge, and the Monthly
Journal adds the J a. plum, with blue
surcharge.

Adhesives.
ia. green, surch. in blue (India)
ia. plum, surch. in blue (India)
25- in black on ia. plum, 3 types (India)
ir. black on green and rose (India)
ia. green and black (B.E.A.)
ia. carmine ,, ,,

-cx£<SeJoo

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No. 1, price one shilling (postage extra).

The August packet contains four
varieties, all unused, viz : — Peru, pro-
visionals, surcharged with head of
President, 2c. vermilion, 2c. lake, and
2c. purple; Spain, 1895, Congress stamps,
15 centimos, pink.

No . 2 , price five shillings (postage extra ) .

The August packet contains four
varieties, viz : — British East Africa, pro-
visionals (surcharged on Indian stamps),
4 annas, olive, and 1 rupee, green and
rose; Spain Congress stamps, 15 centimos,
yellow, and Transvaal, 1/- yellow and
green.

These packets are on sale until September
30th (unless the supply is previously ex-
hausted) and are supplied only to Subscribers
to the ''Philatelic Record and Stamp News."
Similar packets will be on sale every month,
and may be subscribed for in advance for the
year (January to December inclusive), at the
following rates : — No. 1 packet (sent by book
post with the paper), 12s., post-free (if by letter
post the postage is Is. extra Inland ; 2s. 6d.
Abroad). No, 2 packet (by letter post), Inland
(ils., Abroad 62s. (Id., post-free.

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum)
is extra. — Buhl & Co. Limited, 11, Queen
Victoria Street, E.C.

^rrvO: ^lC^XD^^->

224

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

J}hiiaiol% in the Jffo,QQ.

Canada : Pence Issues.

Mr. Donald A. King, in the first instal-
ment of a series of articles on the Stamps
of Canada contributed to the Monthly
Journal, thus discusses the question of the
earJy perforations : —

EARLY PERFORATIONS.

It is an open question whether these stamps
were delivered to the Canadian Post Office
Department in a perforated condition or not.
The manufacturers are wholly unable to thi*ow
any light on the subject ; and while there is
much to be said in favour of their having per-
lorated the stamps, there are points against it
almost as strong.

In favour of it there is the fact that, at the
date these stamps were issued, it was more than
probable that a firm like the manufacturers
would have perforating machines. The normal
gauge of the perforated set is 12, that being the
only size of perforation ever used by the manu-
facturers, or their successors, the American Bank
Note Company ; indeed, they call 12 their
standard and only gauge.

On the other hand, we find that there are
perforated stamps of the first series issued, viz.,
the (5d. on laid paper ; also that there exists two
different varieties of perforation that were never
used by the makers, viz., one gauging 14. and
another that is described in The American
Journal of Philately for January, 1891, as
follows : —

" Canada. — In a large lot of pence issues,
purchased by us lately, we have found two
copies of the 3d , on greyish wove paper, per-
forated 13, with oblique parallel cuts. This
seems to confirm the theory that the pence
issues of Canada were not perforated by the
manufacturers, but either by the Canadian
Government, or by some persons authorised
by them, who most likely experimented with
different perforating machines, finally select-
ing the one perforating 12."

Considering these facts, it may be that the
stamps were sent to Canada in an imperforate
condition, and that the Post Office Department
had them perforated there, either buying a
perforating machine, or entrusting them to some
manufacturers of stationery. Perforations
gauging 13 and 14 may have been experimental,
as specimens of these varieties are rare ; per-
foration 12 being adopted as giving the best
results, the other sizes not being at all clearly
cut, as the 12 generally is. All the stock of
£d., 3d., and Od. on hand would, in this case,
have been perforated, which might account for
the copy of the 6d. on laid paper that is known
in this condition. There always remains the
query why the 7sd. and lOd. were not treated
in the same manner, and to this no answer can
be given. Probably the safest theory to advance,
and the one that I think is correct, is that the

12 gauge was the official one by the manu-
facturers, and that the 13 and 14 were the result
of private enterprise by people using large
quantities of stamps, and they may possibly
ante-date the regularly perforated issue. This
point can only be settled by copies being
found on the original covers.

EARLY PRINTINGS AND REMAINDERS.

Mr. King gives the following quantities
issued of printings of the pence issues,
inclusive of the perforated series : —

£d 3,389,960

3d 3,528,700

6d 402,900

7^<J 82,110

lOd 151,500

12d 1,510

THE 12D. STAMP.

Of the 12d. stamp there were delivered
by the printers 51,400, but the accounts
show very small quantities issued, leaving
eventually a balance on hand of no less
than 49,490. Mr. King says the re-
mainders of all the first issues were
destroyed, and with them no doubt this
stock of 12d. that had been withdrawn
from circulation some years previously.
Of this peculiar value Mr. King writes : —

The 12d. deserves a word in explanation
of the way in which the value was expressed.
This was undoubtedly done intentionally, as
though it was intended for a one shilling stamp,
yet it could not be called that, as there were a
number of shilling* of different values in circu-
lation in the Colony. If the stamp had been
lettered " One Shilling," the Post Office was
liable to have tendered for it, 6Jd., 7£cL, 10d.,
or 12d. according to locality. To obviate this,
the value was expressed as " Twelve Pence,"
leaving no room for error.

THE REMAINDERS DESTKOYED.

Taking the figures of the Postmaster-
General's Eeport for 1859, containing the
last pence stamp account (quoted by Mr.
King), which gives the balance on hand
on June 30th, 1859, we arrive at the fol-
lowing quantities of remainders destroyed,
to which we add the 12d. : —

^d 60,660

3d 21,700

6d 17,578

7id 17,970

10d 31.200

12d 49.400

Lithographed British Colonials.

In our June number (page 171) we
referred to a Mr. Weber's "discovery"
of a long list of stamps produced by

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

225

lithography, that had not previously
been catalogued. The paper has turned
out to be, as we suspected, merely a long
list of absurdities. It was read, as al-
ready stated, before the San Francisco
Philatelic Society. Major Evans, in the
Monthly Journal, deals effectively and
very instructively with the so-called litho-
graphs, and as some of our contem-
poraries have reproduced the original
canard we quote Major Evans in full :—

The list includes a curious mixture of
impressions. Two, the Virgin Islands, which
are stated by the best authorities to have
always been lithographed, and in connection
with which, therefore, there can be no question
of lithographed emergencies ; not less than a
dozen surface-printed stamps, which we believe
even professional printers cannot in all cases
distinguish from good lithographs ; and one
embossed envelope stamp. It is possible that
we are mistaken in supposing that the writer of
the paper intended to imply that all his
examples were steel engravings, as that expres-
sion is usually understood, but that certainly is
the impression conveyed ; and, at any rate, the
fact that he includes the two Virgin Islands
among stamps that are usually " steel en-
graved," must detract considerably from the
value of his opinion.

But curious as is the list, it is far less curious
than the reasons given for these " emergency
issues." The writer states — upon what au-
thority we know not—'- Only the steel matrix
of the stamp is preserved and kept by the
Crown agent, but not the plates, these being
destroyed as soon as the required issue has been
printed therefrom. When a reissue is required,
a new plate is prepared from the same matrix ;
this takes time— several weeks, at least. When
a demand is made for an immediate supply, the
lithographic stone is resorted to, a transfer
made from the matrix, and an edition run off
sufficient to last till the steel plate is ready for
use." Now, all this is the purest nonsense;
no plates, steel or other, of British Colonial
stamps, are ever destroyed until they have
become useless, either through wear and tear,
or by the stamps becoming obsolete— and they
are not invariably destroyed even in the latter
case. We have some doubts whether Messrs.
De La Rue & Co. have ever constructed any
steel engraved plates for Colonial stamps ; we
believe they are still using, for the stamps
which they print by that process, the plates
which were handed over to them when they
obtained the contracts for printing those
stamps. It is their method of printing from
these plates, or the highly-milled paper which
they use, that produces these supposed litho-
graphic impressions. One of the most notice-
able of these is the £d of St. Helena, about
which we made some enquiries last year, with
the result that we were assured, upon the very
best authority, that no St. Helena stamps had
ever been lithographed at all !

It is worthy of remark that the writer of the
paper, to show that the specimens he has
examined are not lithographic forgeries, draws
attention to the fact that, with the exception of

four, all the stamps in the list "have the regu-
lation watermark Crown & CO., or Crown <%
C.A., &c." The four exceptions are, we
presume, the Canadian envelopes, the Falkland
Islands Id. of 1878, and the two Virgin Islands
stamps. The second is the only one of these
that needs special mention. To the best of our
belief, only one supply of this was ever sent
out, and, as it was the first issue of Id stamps,
it is in the last degree improbable that a portion
of the supply was printed by one process and
the rest by another. Moreover, there are no
such marked variations in the colour of the
impression, as there could hardly fail to be in
the case of stamps produced by two such
different methods. All the steel engraved
stamps watermarked Crown & C.C., or C.A.,
were printed by Messrs. De La Rue & Co., and
naturally exhibit the peculiarities of the print-
ing of that firm. Some of their impressions
from the Ceylon plates show these peculiarities
in a marked degree.

Of the Mauritius 5s., mauve, it is certain that
only one supply was ever printed, the whole of
which was sent out at the same time.

We believe that we are right in saying that
all the Australian stamps in the list were
printed on the spot, and some of them from
plates sent out from England, which certainly
were not destroyed as soon as an edition had
been struck off, and we fancy that this dis-
covery of lithographed emergencies is only the
finding of a common, or gar Jen, mare's nest.

Gambia, 6d. Variety.

Mr. Harry Hilckes in the Stamp
Collectors' Fortnightly, calls attention to
an interesting and curious variety in the
(id. stamps of Gambia. He writes :

The stamps are printed in sheets of fifteen, and
the specimen on the top
right corner has the ap-

> pearance of the illustra-

> tion we annex. Evidently

> the plate must have been
\ indented through falling

on the middle surface,
which thus gave this
stamp a crooked appear-
ance, the right side line

> being shorter by about
_^> three quarters of a milli-
metre than the left side

line. The left hand top stamp also shows a
similar characteristic, but here the crookedness
is not so pronounced. I have so far not been
able to ascertain whether this peculiar variety
exists in the imperf. sheets, not having come
across any copies ; but I have found it in the
blue as well as in the olive colour of the
perforated series.

Testing this matter by our sheet of the
6d,, we find the greatest width of the
sheet is on the lefthand edge of the fourth
row of stamps, and here the sheet
measures 71 f mm. On the extreme left
edge the sheet measures 70|mm., and on
the extreme right edge barely 71mm.
The plate must, as Mr. Hilckes suggests,

226

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

have had a fall, but the injury has not
been to the middle edge, but to each side
of the top edge. The stamps lie perfectly
true to a straightedge at the base of the
top row, but if the top of the sheet is
tested with a straight edge rule, it will
be seen that the stamps bulge up near
the centre, the third and fourth stamps
being highest. To the left the incline is
gradual over three stamps from 7 If mm.
to 7 Of mm., but to the right the fall from

7 If mm. to 71mm. nearly all takes place
in the right-hand top corner stamp, hence
the peculiarity noted-
Seychelles Islands Issues.

A correspondent at Mahe contributes
the following interesting letter to
MeheeVs Weekly Stamp News concern-
ing the Seychelles stamps, past, present
and future :

Some time ago I announced that there would
prohably be certaia changes in our present
postal rates. I have now to inform you that
the Secretary of State for the Colonies has
sanctioned these changes, but the new rates
will he somewhat lower than those recom-
mended by the local authorities. The new
rates, with the equivalents in English money,
are as follows : For printed matter, 4 cents of a
rupee, ^d. ; for postal cards, 8 cents of a rupee,
Id.; for single letters, 18 cents of a rupee,
2Jd.

As we already have 4 and 8 cents stamps,
I am of opinion that only two new values will
be issued, viz., 18 and 36 cents. There is some
talk of a 1 rupee stamp, but the question is not
yet decided. In any case it will be 5 or 0
months before any new regular stamps are on
sale, bur one or two provisional values may, of
course, be issued.

As the above changes are about to be made
in our local values, the following information
with reference to previous issues of all values,
may be of interest :

POSTAGE STAMPS, POSTAL CARDS AND STAMPED

ENVELOPES ISSUED IN THE COLONY OP

SEYCHELLES TO 1ST JUNE, 1896.

Number Stock

Value. Issued. on Hand.

2 cents 169.440 ... 81,000

3 " 131,880 ... 72,000

4 " 156,720 ... 79,440

8 " *145,680 ... 69,000

10 " 99.960 ... t96,560

12 " 107,880 ... 90,000

13 " 28,800 ... fl5,000

15 " 100,860 ... 60,000

16 " 161,200 ... fl2,000

45 " .... 47,160 ... 137,200

48 " 28,200 ... f3,0()0

96 " 16,803 ... jjSone.

*Those not sold for postage are surcharged 4 cents
and used for inland revenue purposes.

fWhen present stock is disposed of, no more will b;
issuid.

t Obsolete

SURCHARGES.

Value. Number Issued. Stock on Hand.

3c. on 4c, ... 90,480 ... Out of issue.
12c. on 1 6c, ... 23,760 ... 5,880

15c. on 16c, ... 24,000 ... 5,160

45c on 48c, ... 13,200 ... Out of issue.
90c on 96c, ... 8,160 ... Out of issue.

No further supplies of these values will be
issued.

STAMPED ENVELOPES.

Value. Number Issued. Stock on Hand.

8 cents, ... 30,700 ... 23,200

15 „ ... 31,175 ... 22,100

30 „ ... 31,300 ... 26,770

Issued in March, 1895, are being disposed of
very slowly. The 30c will probably be over-
printed 18c

POSTAL CARDS.

4 cents number issued, 15,275

6 cents „ „ 12,175

8 cents „ „ 15,275

A large stock of these cards still on sale, both
single and reply.

ERRORS, ETC.

Inverted surcharges appeared on two de-
nominations, only 120 being so issued in each
case. These denominations were : 3c. on 4c,
and 15c. on 16c

Of the 12c on 15c. surcharge, 4 copies were
issued with double surcharge, this being by
long odds the rarest Seychelles stamp.

Norway 1 ore : Varieties.

The following description of the sev-
eral ' ' varieties of the 1 ore of Norway ' '
has been translated (by MeheeVs Weekly
Stamp News) from Le Timbre-Poste :

The 1st Variety appeared on the 1st of
January, 1877, with all the other values : 3, 5,
10, 12, 20, 25, and 50 ore. The posthom' is
shaded on its widest end. The perforation of
the stamp is 13^; the smallest figure 1 has,
above, quite a lengthy sloping serif, and below,
a very pronounced horizontal foot stroke.

1 ore, dark greyish bistre.

2nd Variety. — In March, 1 892, the color was
modified, and also the small figure 1, which
has no strokes, either above or below ; perfor-
ation, 13J.

1 ore, dark brown.

3rd Variety. — In 1893 a new change took
place in the small 1, which appears now with
very small serif and foot stroke ; perforation
13J.

1 ore, pale yellowish-grey.

"We are assured that this third variety is
quite rare.

4th Variety. — In December, 1895, there was
a modification of all inscriptions, the type used
being materially different. The small 1 is
larger than in the other varieties ; perforation
13.

1 ore, pale yellowish-grey.

This last variety is the only one in use
to-day.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

227

Roumanian Levant.

The Roumanian Levant Stamps which,
we chronicled last month (p. 189) are
already obsolete. The Porte objected to
little Eoumania having a post office of its
own at Constantinople after the manner
of the Great Powers, and the service had
to be withdrawn. The Timbre Poste says
the service lasted from March loth to May
25th, and that the offices were on board
the vessels of a Roumanian Company.
According to the Philatelic Monthly (U.S.)
the stamps were printed in the following
quantities : —

10 pa. on 5 b., black surcharge, 750

20 „

„ 10

6300

lpi.

„ 25

3900

10 pa.

on 5

violet

3300

20 „

., 10

7200

lpi.

„25

Total,

3900

25,350

Sweden 2 ore Vermilion.

We are promised some " eye openers "
in some future edition of our ' ' Gibbons ' '
as to the stamps of Sweden. Meanwhile,
we pick up the crumbs as they fall. Here
is one from the Philatelic Californian con-
cerning a variety of the 2 ore vermilion : —

There is a variety of this stamp that is but
little known to collectors in general. All the
stamps have a period after " Frimarke," but in
this variety there is a full, round dot befoi-e
" Frimarke " as well, opposite the middle bar of
the " F." Ten stamps of this variety are found
in each full sheet, being alternate stamps in the
fourth and ninth horizontal rows. The first
stamp of the row is the common one, the second
the variety, and so on.

Chili; Re-engraved (1894) Issue.

In the Inquiry Department of MekeeVs
Weekly Stamp News the question is asked,
" What is the difference between the re-
engraved 1 and 2 centavos stamps of Chili
1894 issue, and the old stamps -f the same
denominations?" The reply may be
helpful to collectors of this favourite
South American Republic :- -

The principal difference between the new and
old dies of these stamps was in the figure of
value. The new " 1 " is about J mm. thicker
than the old and the top is also broader. The
new " 2 " instead of ending in a ball at the top
has a thin crescent-shaped line. This figure is
also J mm. broader than the original type. The
difference between the two l's is quite con-
spicuous after the attention has been once called
to it, as the re-engraved figure is much stouter
looking than the old one.

Protection of Cancellations.

Last month we quoted (p. 194) from

the Post Office, concerning a device tried

by the United States Government for

frustrating the fraudulent removal of

cancellations. Mr. H. B. Phillips, in

MekeeVs Weekly Stamp News, tells the
whole story of what he terms the
" starched back " stamps by the publica-
tion of the following specification of the
patent. Mr. Phillips states, on the au-
thority of the inventor, that there were
a million or so issued informally.

POSTAGE STAMPS.

CHAS. F. STEEL, NEW YORK, X. Y.

(Filed March 15, 1875.)

To All Whom It May Concern :

Be it known that I, Charles F. Steel, Super-
intendent of the Manufacture of Postage Stamps
for the Continental Bank Note Company, in
New York City, in the State of New York,
have invented certain improvements relating
to postage stamps, of which the following is a
specification : —

Many efforts have been made by myself and
others to produce a practically successful post-
age stamp from which the cancelling ink cannot
be removed to allow their fraudulent reuse.
My present invention is for that purpose.

I take a soft unsized paper analogous to
blotting paper, quite soft and absorbent. Having
printed the face from the properly engraved
plates, and allowing the ink thereon to dry pro-
perly, I treat the back with a solution of starch
of just a proper consistency, having the effect
both to lay a thin coating or covering on the
back surface, and also to fill the interstices
between the fibres in the paper, so as to give
the back surface of the paper a firmer character
than the front. Then after flattening in a press,
I apply British gum or other adhesive layer on
the back of the starch layer, and. having again
pressed the sheet of stamps, they are ready for
shipment and use like ordinary stamps. My
improved stamp is cheaper to produce than the
double thickness stamp described in my patent
of 1869 (No. 86952) while it possesses in a great
degree the same desirable qualities. The soft
face will readily absorb the cancelling ink, and
will be soaked and washed away on any attempt
to remove the latter.

This soft body paper should be of such a
character as to be removed and destroyed by a
moderate friction after being wetted, care being-
taken to avoid employing so extremely soit a
paper as will become destroyed by ordinary
unskillful manipulation in affixing the stamp.
What is called in the trade " water leaf " paper
will suffice. The layer of starch should be of
such consistency as to strike a little, but only a
little, into the thickness of the paper. The
qualities of the soft body induce less disposition
in the stamp to curl when moistened and applied
on a letter ; there is, also, less disposition to
curl after the gumming in the process of manu-
facture. Less care is required in the subsequent
pressing and preparation, in the handling, and
shipment. A thinner and lighter paper may be
employed.

I claim as my invention a postage or revenue
stamp formed wholly of water leaf or other soft
and absorbent paper, provided on the back with
a filling coating of starch or analogous material.

228

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

and a superposed coating of ordinary gum, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand on this 13th day of March, 1875, in the
presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Chas. F. Steel.
Witnesses : Wm, C. Dey, M. A. Van Namee.

U.S. Triangle Varieties.

The current issue of United States
issue promise enough work for an ordin-
ary specialist, for what with varieties of
printing, of triangle, and of watermark,
with plate numbers thrown in, the series
is already imposing. Hitherto the three
varieties of the triangular ornaments
have been confined to the 2 cent value,
but now it seems they are to run through
the whole series. Mr. Bartels, of Wash-
ington, writes to the Daily Stamp Item as
follows : —

The appearance of tiiangle III. in the
corners of the current 3 cent watermarked
stamps revives the rumour that the whole
series is to be treated in the same manner very
soon. Proofs of all the values have been seen
with triangle III.

U.S. Plate Numbers.

Mr. Bartels sends some interesting
notes concerning U.S. Plate Numbers to
the Daily Stamp Item. Here is a word of
explanation as to the scarcity of the much
discussed plate No. 89.

The extreme scarcity of plate No. 89, 2c, is
explained by the fact that the plate was broken
during the printing, and only one quarter the
usual quota of stamps were issued, Nothwith-
standing the fact that this plate was only issued
in January, 1 895, I consider it the rarest plate
No. that has been printed in the past ten years.
The sum of $5,000 has been offered recently
without bringing forth a single specimen.

U.S. Current 2 cents varieties.

Mr. H. L. Watts summarises in the
Eastern Philatelist (U.S.) the varieties of
the current 2 cents varieties as follows : —

On October 5. 1894, the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing began the issue of this stamp.
The result of the first few days was what is
known as the " pale pink " stamp. This variety
is printed on very thin paper with a very pale
pink ink, and is gummed with a thin, colourless
gum. These stamps were only issued for a

few days, when they gave way to the second
variety.

The second variety was issued about October
10. In this stamp the printers went to the
other extreme and produced a specimen on thick
paper, with heavy gum, and of a dark rose
colour. This stamp, also, was issued in small
numbers, but is not so valuable as variety one.

Variety three differs from the second variety
only in colour and paper. The colour is a very
light scarlet, and the paper is lighter. This
variety is numerous.

In variety number four we have the first
plate difference. In varieties one, two, and three
the triangles are the same, but in number four
the shading inside of the triangles is reduced,
and makes it appear lighter than the shading
outside. This stamp appears in a medium shade
of carmine, on a paper nearly as light as number
one, with a smooth gum.

Number five exhibits the second plate differ-
ence, which consists in the shading between the
lines of the double triangles being entirely
removed, while the shading inside the triangles
appears as in variety four. The paper is the
same as used for variety three. The colour is a
dark carmine, on some specimens approaching a
rose colour.

Variety six is nearly the same as number five
in appearance, but is on watermarked paper ;
each stamp bearing one of the four letters,
U.S.P.S. Of this variety there are several
minor varieties, including shades of colour and
inverted watermarks.

Paper of U.S. Current Issue.

Mr. J. M. Bartels, of Washington, sup-
plies the following interesting item of
information concerning the paper used in
printing the current stamps of the United
States : —

When the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
accepted the contract for supplying the Govern-
ment with postage stamps, a small quantity of
paper was turned over to the authorities by the
American Bank Note Company, and this was
the first used by the Bureau for printing stamps.
The manufacturers of this paper were at first
unknown to the government officials, and the
former contractors refused to divulge the source
of their supply. The Bureau was, therefore,
compelled to use a similar paper which was
found on hand for printing stamps until the
firm which had supplied the American Bank
Note Company became known to the autho-
rities.

Immediately a contract was made, and ever
since the Government has drawn its supply
irom this source.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

229

philatelic Q-ossiyp.

The Ban of the S.S.S.S.

Critics and grumblers are beginning to
learn that the ban of S.S.S.S. is a power
in the land. Even our American friends
who cried out over the matter are coming
round. There is not one in the whole
crowd that dare to take up a single case
and fight it out as a specimen of an un-
wise decision of the S.S.S.S. Mr. Trifet
and Mr. Kilbon, both of Boston, have had
a great deal to say against the ban of
the Society. Let them stand to their
guns and make a definite charge of a
wrong decision.

The S.S.S.S., as they know perfectly
well, has been called into existence for
the sole purpose of endeavouring to put
an end to the unscrupulous fleecing of col-
lectors that was fast growing into a
recognized trade. We are heart and soul
with the whole movement ; and whilst
we are connected with it we intend to
fight its battle against all comers. If
Mr. Kilbon wants some " spicy " copy for
his Boston Stamp Book, let him make his
journal the arena for the fray. We are
ready.

British South Africa Provisionals.

The provisionals on Cape stamps have
had a short and a merry life. They are
already superseded by a supply of the
ordinary issue from Salisbury. While
the provisionals lasted there seems to
have been a daily scramble for them.
The Post Office officials were at their
wits' end to make the temporary supply
last till communication was restored with
the source of ordinary supply. As a
j)rotection against the whole stock being
gobbled up by stamp speculators all
letters had to be handed in at the Post
Office, and they were stamped by the
officials, no stamps being sold to the
public. For receipt purposes a maxi-
mum of six could be got on a very
solemn promise that they were going to
be used as receipt stamps. A collector
bought six in that way, and timorously
ventured to post one to himself. It
arrived safely, but in an eclipse condi-
tion. The iron heel of a 20-stone official
had evidently been used as a cancelling
machine, with the result that only a very
small portion of one of the top corners
gave rise to a suspicion that there was a
postage stamp underneath. Already the
provisionals are at famine prices in
Rhodesia, as much as thirty shillings

each being offered for copies. Under
these circumstances unused copies should
be worth securing early.

" Picked Specimens."

Is the Editor of the London Philatelist
going into training as a grim humourist ?
if not, what does he mean by the follow-
ing reference to the attendance at the
Eighth Philatelic Congress at Cologne : —

Almost every other European nation was
represented — in some cases perhaps not by
•' picked specimens" as although their desit/its
might have been deemed well-niarkecl, their
condition left much to be desired !

Postage Stamp Repairers.

The following from the Daily Moil
(London), will show that our confreres of
the daily press have been nosing about
in the back slums of philately : —

As an outcome of the rage lor postage-stamp
collecting, there are several men in London who
make a good living as postage-stamp repairers,
their duty being to ingeniously piece together
valuable stamps which have been torn or
mangled.

Perhaps the chief of all their duties is that of
putting a new perforated edge upon valuable
stamps which have been carelessly cut out from
envelopes instead of being carefully torn away
or otherwise removed. They do this so well
that it is impossible for anyone but a very nice
expert to tell that a false perforation has been
added. It should here be said that any mutila-
tion in the case of a stamp greatly detracts from
its value amongst collectors.

In some cases, where mutilated stamps are
concerned, two imperfect specimens are made to
form one perfect one, and even the colours,
w here very considerable fading has taken place,
are restored.

Supplying a Perforation.

The Rev. John Luther Kilbon, editor
of the Boston Stamp Book, thus discusses
in the Daily Stamp Item the morality of
supplying a perforation on the fourth side
of a stamp which has been issued with
perforations on three sides only.

There can be no doubt that such perforation
adds value to the specimen which does not
belong to it in its own right, and so those who
oppose the practice rest their claim on that
fact. But in theory and practice a good many
of the leading collectors here have had such
work done to their own stamps, arguing that
they did it simply to improve the appearance of

230

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

their albums. So far, so good ; but what when
the albums are sold, as they are pretty sure to
be in the near or distant future ?

We are sorry for "the leading collectors"
of Boston here referred to. If they will
tamper with a stamp in one matter, why
not in another ? If they will add a per-
foration, why not also remove a perfora-
tion, or a surcharge, or vary a surcharge
from a normal to a rare variety ? Can it
be that of such are " the leading col-
lectors " of Boston ?

The Scott and Mekeel Companies.

It is announced that the Scott Stamp
and Coin Co. of New York, and the
C. H. Mekeel Co. of St. Louis, have
entered into a contract for the future
publication of all their stamp albums on
a joint account. An album for junior
collectors, omitting minor varieties of
watermark, perforation, &c, is in course
of preparation for publication by the
joint firms in the autumn. They will
also provide the junior collector with an
illustrated stamp catalogue conforming
to the scope of the abridged album.

A Journal for the Young Collector.

The young collector in the States is
also to have a journal of his awn in
future. The "Stamps" Publishing Co.
of New York has been incorporated " to
publish a journal devoted to the interest
of stamp collectors." Capital : £100.
Directors : F. W. Hunter, G. B. Colman,
J. S. Kich, and others.

The Columbian Slump.

It has come at last. Says Mr. W. F.
Gregory in the Daily Stamp Item :

I saw to-day a speculator unload his $2.00
Columbians — 500 copies at 10 per cent, dis-
count from face. So ends his speculation, but
what results do we foresee ? These large
quantities marketed of late by speculators pass
into the hands of bankers and others who use
them.

The Saxony 3pf. Sheet
In his notes in the Monthly Journal
Mr. C. J. Phillips gives the history of the
Saxony 3pf . sheet, which changed hands
recently at Cologne : —

The best thing sold at the meeting no doubt
came to England, Mr. Castle and our own firm
being probably the two largest buyers present.
Mr. Castle secured, for a sum of about £300,
an unsevered and unused sheet of 20 Saxony
3pf. red. This is believed to be the only sbeet
known, and is the one formerly in the Friedl
Museum of Vienna. Mr. Friedl got it from a
Castle in Saxony, wbere it was found pasted on
a fire-screen, and varnisbed over ! Naturally it
is not in the most brilliant condition, but it is a
unique piece, and well worth the price paid.

Our Next Auctjon Season.

Already, and in the sweltering days of
August, we have the first of the Cata-
logues of the next Auction Season. Of
course, restless people, like our publishers
and Messrs. Cheveley & Co. cannot
help troubling the souls of the most
peacefully inclined even in July and
August ; but considerate folks, like
Messrs. Ventom, Bull, & Cooper, and
Puttick & Simpson, by a summer recess,
do give us a little rest. The first Cata-
logue we have received is from Messrs.
Ventom, Bull, & Cooper, for the 24th
September next. It is full of evidence
that good things are still turning up.
For instance, there are a couple of fine
specimens of the 30c. black on bluish,
first issue Eeunion, and India Service
Stamps, 1867, 4as. green and lilac, a
superb strip of 4, ^a. green and lilac,
a pair, surcharged " Service," 2as. yellow
and 4as. green, a pair, all used on piece
of original, probably unique in this
condition.

More Korea.

According to the Washington cor-
respondent of MekeeVs Weekly Stamp
News the Korean issue of 1895 stamps
were printed in "Washington by A. B.
Graham, a lithographer. The litho-
graping was done on gummed sheets,
and the total issue is said to have been
200,000.

The Philatelic World.

There has been a slight change in the
editorship of our excellent Indian con-
temporary, the Philatelic World. With
the July number, just received, Mr. C. F.
Larmour takes on the editorship single
handed, which he has hitherto shared
with Mr. Wilmot Corfield. From an
editorial announcement we gather that
Mr. Larmour means to put his back into
the work of still further improving the
journal which has fallen into his keeping.
He is an experienced collector with plenty
of energy, and a facile pen.

Buhl & Co., Limited.— Dividend.

Our publishers have just declared a
dividend of 7 per cent, on the preference
shares and 5 per cent, on the ordinary
shares for the year ending June 30th, 1896^

Yet another Buchanan.

The purchaser of "the only known
Buchanan 10 cent " must be getting
somewhat dubious about his investment,
for the cry is " still they come." A
second discovery of this " rarest stamp in
the world," was a mild surprise; then

CORRESPONDENCE.

231

there was a third, and now the Philatelic

Monthly (U.S.), says:

We hear that still another 10 cent Buchanan
stamp has been discovered by a boy among the
old letters in a bank. The young man showed
the stamp to his employers who remembered
reading an account of the sale of a stamp for.
several thousand dollars, so they determined to
investigate the matter and see if the stamp
found among their papers was of much value.
They were highly gratified to discover that the

stamp was of great value and promised the boy
a substantial part of the proceeds of his find
when it has been turned into cash. This is the
fourth specimen found.

Replies to Queries.

Scoticus : The presence of the Nyassa-
lands on an approval sheet of "the
leading firm ' ' must have been an over-
sight.

Correspondence.

Dear Sir., — The letter from " Gr" published
in the issue of the Stamp Collectors1 Fortnightly
of Saturday last, is so calculated to convey a
wrong impression as to the action of the Phila-
telic Society of London, and the views and
intentions of the promoters of the proposed
Exhibition, that I think it desirable to explain
what has actually been done.

Some time before any communication from
the Crystal Palace Company, the idea of holding
an Exhibition in London in the coming year
had been discussed between some of the leading
Collectors and Dealers, and steps had been taken
with the object of initiating the movement.

While the matter was thus under considera-
tion the London Society was invited by the
Authorities to arrange and organise for the
Crystal Palace Company an Exhibition at
Sydenham. The suggestion was brought before
a General Meeting of the Society, and was
referred to the Council to be dealt with.

Feeling the necessity of securing the co-
operation of the Dealers, a large number of the
principal Members of the Trade, and of the
Philatelic Press, were invited to meet the
Council. A Iter a full discussion, representatives
of both bodies interviewed the Manager of the
Crystal Palace and ascertained in detail what
arrangements could be made, and only after full
inquiries had been instituted as to the cost of
Insurance (an expense which had to be pro-
vided for), and other matters of vital importance
for ensuring success, it was decided that the
Crystal Palace would not be a suitable place for
the Exhibition.

None of the very great advantages of the
offer of the Crystal Palace Company were by
any means overlooked, and it was only with
very great reluctance and regret that an adverse
decision was arrived at.

The principal reasons for this decision — there
were many minor ones — were, the heavy cost
of Insurance ; a doubt as to the possibility of
sufficiently guaranteeing the safety of Exhibits ;
and the fact that several of the largest Col-
lectors, whose co-operation is absolutely neces-
sary to the success of any Philatelic Exhibition,
were so strongly opposed to the idea that their
Stamps Avould not have been available.

Under these circumstances the Council had

no alternative but to decline the offer, as the

Society could not be expected to organise an

Exhibition without the certainty of being able

• to make it a success.

At the same time, as there was a generally
expressed opinion that an Exhibition should be
held in London, it was felt that the Meetings
afforded an opportunity of taking the preliminary
steps for securing this object. Inquiries were
accordingly made as to the most suitable places,
and almost every available place in London was
visited and inspected, with the result that the
Galleries of the Royal Institution of Painters in
Water Colours were found to be the most
suitable under all the circumstances which had
to be considered.

In order to make a beginning a provisional
General Committee was formed, consisting of
persons who had attended any of the Meetings,
with power to add to their number, and, although
possibly this Committee is not yet thoroughly
representative so far as the Collectors are con-
cerned, the trade is already strongly represented.

A start having been made, it is intended at
the first Meeting, to be held this week, to pro-
pose that the President and Secretary of each
of the principal provisional Societies, together
with other prominent Collectors and Dealers
who have not yet promised their support, should
he invited to join the Committee, and the Mem-
bers will, I feel sure, gladly welcome suggestions
as to any other well-known Philatelists willing
and able to help them in the exceptionally
heavy work which the Exhibition will entail.

I think I have said enough to show that there
is no intention that the Exhibition should be
" confined to a few Members of the London
Society," and that there is no foundation for the
suggestion of " autocratic measures."

In conclusion, I trust that there will be an
end to recriminations, and that all lovers of our
hobby will heartily co-operate to make the
International Philatelic Exhibition of 1897 the
great success which I feel sure it will be.
Yours truly,

J. A. Tilleard.

4, Lombard Court, London, E.C.,
27th July. 1896.

232

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

J^otablo J^tannps at Ruction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk

£ s. d.

BUHL &. Co.,

7th and 8th July, 18c
Antigua, 2^d. brown,

c c*

Bolivia, 1867, 50c. blue,

penmark

British Guiana, 1862, 2c.

yellow, pearls, rou-

lette two sides

■3

Canada, -]\&, green

iod. blue, thin paper, on

piece ...

Dominican Republic, first

issue, ir. yellow*

Great Britain, 10s. grey,

anchor ...

^5 orange, on bluish ...

Mauritius, post paid, 2d.

blue, medium early ...

New Brunswick, half of

6d. yellow, on entire...

6d. yellow

is. lilac, fine

Newfoundland, 2d. car-

mine-red

2d. orange

4d. orange, pencil-mark

6d. orange

is. carmine-red

6*d. lake

5c. brown

New South Wales, Sydney,

id., plate 1, on yellow-

ish, a pair

Ditto, on bluish...

Ditto, id., plate 2, on

bluish

Ditto, on yellowish

Ditto, 2d., plate 1, early

Ditto, 2d., plate 2

Ditto, 2d., plate 3

Ditto, 3d. green

New Zealand, id. orange

on blue

2d. orange, lozenge wmk.

£6 orange

£ s. d.

Nova Scotia, 6d. deep

green* ... 240

is. deep violet, on piece

with a 3d. and three

id. ... ... ... 30 o o

Peru, medio peso yellow... 1 18 o
St. Christopher, 4d. blue,

C.A.* ... m 615 o

Tolima, first issue, 5c.

black on buff ... ...220

Trinidad, litho,fine, light

blue ...260

Turks Islands, ^d on 4d.

.grey* 3 5°

United States, 5 red-brown,

imperf. ... ... 1 11 o

(1869-75), 30 c. no

grill* ... ... ...300

Victoria, first issiie, 2d.

purple brown fine

ground ... ... ...200

Virgin Islands, 4d. on is.

crimson* 1 14 o

Western Australia, first

issue, 6d. grey-black... 1 15 o

CHEVELEY & Co.

17 tk July, 1896.

Oldenburg, i860, ^3 gi\,
error DRITTE " ... 4

Ceylon, imperf., 4d. ... 7
Ditto, perf., star, 8d.,
yellow -brown, slight
tear ... ... ... 3

Transvaal, 1878, 3d.lilacon
buff, block of 25, two
varieti s of V.R.* ... 5

Mauritius, Env., is. yellow,
cut square* 5

Nevis, is. puTple, block

of 4* . ». 7

St. Christopher, 6d. olive,

pair* ... ... ... 4

Montserrat. C.A., 4d. blue 4

Nevis, engraved, 4d.

orange* 3 3

B. Guaina, 1862, 2c.

crossed ovals £\ 5 o & 3 10
Buenos Ayres, 4p. red ... 9 5
Colombia, 1862, 20c. red,

fine ... ... ... 4 12

PUTTICK & SIMPSON,

20th and 21st July, 1896.

Naples, J tornese cross ...
Ditto, fj tornese arms on
entire original
Oldenburg, second issue,

V3 gros

Roumania, Moldavia, 81

paras

Ditto, 108 paras, cut ...
Tuscany, third issue, 9

crozie, pale violet
Ceylon, 2s. blue, imperf.*
India, first issue, 4a.

blue* _

Mauritius, post paid, id.

orange red

Ditto, Britannia, sur.

fourpence

Newfoundland, 6^ carmine
vermilion
Ditto, is. orange ver-
milion

Dominica, is. C.A., pair*

Montserrat, 4d. blue, C.A.

Nevis, is. yellow jrreen ...

Ditto, 6d. grey, pair* ...

Ditto, single copy*

St. Vincent, 4d. on is

vermilion*

Tobago, 6d. ochre

Turk's Islands, 2^d. on is.
prune* ...
Ditto, 4d. on is. prune*
Virgin Islands, is , single
line border* ...

J^otlOQQ.

Editorial Commu n i cat ions.— Articles of
special interest will be paid for. M.S. dealing with
particular points in an exhaustive manner will be most
welcome. As we wish to arrange matter in advance,
we shall be glad to hear from Specialists who are open
to write up their special countries.

All communications on Editorial matters should be
addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J. Nankivell,

28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Letters enclosing valuable
should be registered.

Subscriptions.— The Philatelic Record and
Stamp News will be sent post free to any subscriber
at home or abroad, on receipt of 3s. Subscribers'
remittances should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs.
Buhl & Co., Limited, it Queen Victoria Street,
London, England.

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hurst Rise, Croydon.

Advertisements must be received not later than the 15th of the month for publication in the next issue.

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News,

SEPTEMBER, 1896.

Qditorial J^otes.

UR Postal and Revenue authorities, who seem obstinately bent upon
doing all the injury they can to Stamp Collectors and the Stamp
Dealing trade of the country, appear to us to be more obtuse and short-
sighted than usual. They pounce down upon us as being guilty of
producing illustrations of stamps that may be used as forgeries, when,
as a matter of fact, the very existence of the trade depends upon its
ability to protect itself from the production of forgeries. We wonder if it has
ever occurred to our, or indeed to any, Postal authorities that, instead of being a
gt menace to the production and sale of genuine stamps, Stamp

Collectors Collectors and Stamp Dealers are really a keen, vigilant, and
efficient army of detectives, sleeplessly on the watch to expose
Detectives f°r&ery- They are keen and watchful in their own interest, and
they are efficient by reason of their incomparable experience in
immediately recognising forgeries. No Postal official, unless, indeed, he be a
Stamp Collector of great experience, can hope to equal the efficiency of the
Stamp Collector in the detection of fraudulent stamps. Any decently executed
forgery would deceive a postal official, but it would soon be exposed by an
experienced Stamp Collector. In all probability the manufacture of forgeries
of postage stamps would be a most lucrative business but for the knowledge
that it is next to impossible for even the cleverest forgery to escape early
detection by Stamp Collectors. Had forgers no one more watchful and efficient
than our -Postal officials to fear, the probability is that they would milk the
revenue, with the greatest ease and safety, of many thousands of pounds every
year. But, with the ever- watchful eyes of a vast army of philatelists upon them,
the forgers know perfectly well that even their best laid schemes would be
exposed before they could be profitably exploited. Surely such an undoubted
service is worthy of grateful recognition at the hands of our Postal authorities.
Stamp Collectors ask nothing but toleration from Postal authorities, and in
consideration of such toleration Stamp Collectors may successfully continue
their self-imposed task of guarding the postal revenue from being a continual
prey to the Stamp forger.

234 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Auctioneers, dealers, and collectors are all looking forward to

The Coining the coming season with no little interest, and are speculating as

Season. to what will be its characteristic feature. Will it be a season of

advancing prices, or of disagreeable surprises ? Will it tend to
the advancement of Philately, or will it be marked by serious defections from
the ranks ? Will there be a plethora of gems or a growing and marked
scarcity ? Who can tell ? We may not forecast our philatelic future, but we
may reckon up with more or less certainty those tendencies, or influences,
which we may speak ofv as being " in sight," and as being likely to affect for
good or ill the trend of matters philatelic. First and foremost, though fixed
for the end of the season, looms up the forthcoming Exhibition of 1897 ; it
must affect the season that precedes it. There will be gaps to be filled by
intending exhibitors ; indifferent specimens to be laid aside for perfect
copies ; and neglected countries to be brought up to exhibition stan-
dard. All round, in fact, there should be a general and even exceptional
activity in philatelic circles in preparation for the great show in July.
The trade will benefit accordingly. The outside public even will catch
at least some of the enthusiasm, and recruits will swell the ranks and
help to further popularise one of the most enjoyable and sociable of all our
indoor pastimes. Then, again, the threatened famine of rarities is checked
by the unexpected turning up at our auctions. Someone tires of the pursuit, or
wants to realise, and there is a distribution of an unexpected hoard. Already the
season gives promise of some rare opportunities in this direction. Interest has
also been awakened in the welfare and encouragement of the junior collector,
and the coming season will probably be marked by the impetus which it will
afford in this important direction. Gloomily inclined persons may find reasons
for being despondent. They may tell us that stamp collecting is getting to be
more and more a sordid matter of £ s. d. ; that not a few of our prominent
collectors are more dealers than collectors ; that in too many cases " market
price" is a matter of conscience, and that many consciences are most elastic ;
all this we have heard before. The gloomily inclined, like the poor are
always with us. When their livers get out of order they are almost unbearable.
Yet, despite their forebodings, we are inclined to believe that the forthcoming
season, bar the unforeseen, will be a bumper season all round.

A Correspondent informs us that a local solicitor has taken

Indian up the matter about the charging of duty on the full value of

Customs Duty approval sheets of postage stamps sent to collectors in India,

on Stamps, and it will shortly be tested before a Court of Law. He will

contend that the charging of duty on old stamps is illegal. We

are asked in this connection if we can strengthen the plea that philately is a

science. In order to reply, we must lay down an acceptable definition of

what may be regarded as a science, and for this we turn to the best dictionaries,

which tell us that science may be defined as " any department of knowledge

in which the results of investigation have been worked and systematized ; an

exact and systematic statement of knowledge concerning some subject or

group of subjects ; especially a system of ascertained facts and principles

covering and attempting to give adequate expression to a great natural group

or division of knowledge ; as the sciences of astronomy, botany, chemistry, and

medicine ; the science of theology."

Philately, in its scientific aspect, deals with the manufacture and distribution
of stamps in all their multifarious details, and their application to the postal
requirements of the various countries of the world. We go back to the
beginning of things, and we trace the development of postal communication
from the earliest days to the present time, and we investigate in the minutest
manner every process that contributes to postal development. Hence we
become the scientific historians of the world's postal services. Our published

EDITORIAL NOTES. 235

investigations are preserved in hundreds, if not in thousands of volumes. Our
monthly literature equals, if it does not exceed, that devoted to any other
science, and our workers include many leading men of other sciences. What
more can be needed to establish our claim that our study ranks as an admittedly
scientific pursuit.

What the connection may be with the ridiculous tax levied by the Customs
authorities of India on returnable articles of no intrinsic value, we fail to see,
but whatever it may be, we trust it will help to convince those authorities of
the absurdity of their tax. If our Indian friends fail, we hope to have a shot
in other, and, we hope, more rational quarters.

We are also asked whether we regard stamps as curiosities ? Undoubtedly
they are curiosities. What else are they ? They have not even the intrinsic
value of a coin, which, apart from its value as a curiosity, has, in the case of
gold and silver coins, an intrinsic value. An old stamp has none, except as
waste paper. It is, from the philatelic point of view, simply an interesting
historical document which enables us to investigate and understand the postal
development of a particular country. Often it is also a clue to interesting
research as to primitive methods employed in the early settlement of our
colonies, in engraving and printing.

On another page we publish the full list of the General

London Committee which has undertaken the task of getting up an

Philateiic International Philatelic Exhibition to be held in London in

Exhibition, July of next year. We also publish the names of the Executive

1897. Committee, chosen out of the General Committee, which will

have to shoulder the actual burden of the work. This Executive

has been made up of volunteers who have practically placed their time at the

disposal of the General Committee. With twenty such volunteers the success

of the Exhibition should be assured. The first work of the Executive will be

to get out the general scheme as early as possible, in order that collectors and.

dealers all over the world may have ample opportunity of contributing their

quota to the exhibits. Even to collectors at home the notice will be none too

long to give them time to negotiate and prepare the countries they may

advantageously hope to exhibit. Despite the splendid rooms at the disposal

of the Committee, the demand for space will probably exceed the supply, in

which case the Committee will naturally have to take care that their final

choice shall represent the " survival of the fittest." In our next issue we

hope to be able to publish the full scheme, with details as to medals

and prizes.

Our East African Protectorates are evidently undergoing a
East African process of reconstruction of peculiar importance to collectors of
Protectorates, postage stamps. Our authority for this statement is the following

notice in a recent issue of the London Gazette: —

Foreign Office, August 31st. — It is hereby notified for public information tbat all the
territories in East Africa now under the protectorate of Her Majesty, except the Islands of Zanzibar
and Pemba and the Uganda Protectorate, are for the purposes of administration included in one
Protectorate, under the name of the East Africa Protectorate. This Protectorate includes the
territories bound* d on the north by the river Juba, on the east by the Indian Ocean, on the south
by the German sphere, on the west by the Uganda Protectorate, and also all adjacent islands
between the mouths of the rivers Juba and Umba.

From this we gather that " British East Africa " becomes in future " East
Africa Protectorate," and out of the old ''British East Africa" territory is
to be carved a new Protectorate which will be known as the " Uganda
Protectorate." For each of these practically new Protectorates we may, in
the ordinary course of nature, expect sets of postage stamps.

236 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

^ho ^tamps of QgTflpt*

By G. B. Duerst.

«M(?

HE stamps of Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, have always had a great
hold on the minds of philatelists, and have in a good many cases
run a close second with youthful collectors to the triangular Capes,
and it is surprising to find how few, even amongst good collectors,
know the great variety of types, apart from perforations and water-
marks, that can and ought to be collected. Egypt is even in these
days of high prices a good hunting ground for the specialist, and a fine collec-
tion can be made at a moderate cost. The great variety of design, colour, and
execution gives such a collection a great charm, and will amply repay anyone
for the trouble.

The State religion, being Mohammedan, forbids the Khedive to have his
likeness depicted on the stamps, and after the first issue we find the monu-
ments of the great past of the country aptly represented by the Pyramid and
the Sphynx, which slightly modified appear since 1867.

I. Issue, is/ of January, 1866.

The decree for this issue was dated December 21st, 1865, and the principal
paragraphs are as follows : —

Rules for the Internal Postal Service.

(This decree comes into force on the 1st of January, 1866.)

Art. 1. — The monopoly of the postal service belongs by right to the Government.*

Art. 2. — The following are exempt from this monopoly : —

(1) Newspapers and periodicals distributed in the town where they are printed.

(2) Letters, circulars, &c, by societies, firms, &c, delivered in the same place where

they are established.

(3) Plans, law papers in connection with the courts, registers, &c, unaccompanied

by a letter.

(4) Freight notes, bills of lading, and other notes brought by captains, curriers,

porters, muleteers, or others having reference only to the goods tbey carry.

(5) Letters, even closed, and newspapers, when taken by persons, if the number is

not such as to be deemed to be a business matter.

(6) Letters and papers referring to the railway service, and taken over the lines.

Art. 3. — Messengers, muleteers, captains or owners of rafts, &c, arriving at any port or place
within the state have to take all the correspondence which they bring to the next
post-office.

Art. 4 — The postal officials have to watch that the administration of the railway, the steam
ship companies or their agents, horse owners, &c, do not take and convey letters
or other correspondence.

Art. 5. — The rate of postage for ordinary letters is according to weight for 10 grammes or any
portion thereof.

Art. 8. — The franking of ordinary letters is optional, that of registered letters compulsory.

Art. 47. — The paper used for the stamps, and the manufacture thereof, is reserved to the
Government, which determines the form and the price.

* The internal postal service of Egypt was before this time in the hands of private people, principally
Iulians ; the first Postmaster-General was also an Italian.

THE STAMPS OF EGYPT. 237

Art. 48. — The stamps for ordinary letters must be put on by the sender, those for registered
letters by the postal officials.

Art. 49. — All stamps will be obliterated at the first post-office. The difference in postage for
insufficiently stamped letters will be collected from the receiver.

Sec. 50. — The postage for letters that are not franked will be put on the address side in large
figures.

Sec. 52. — The franking of correspondence by means of stamps cut in two is inadmissible, the
value of such stamps is lost to the sender, and newspapers franked with such cut
stamps will be destroyed.

Sec. 53. — All the correspondence will be distributed at the post-offices and not delivered.

Further articles deal with the inviolability of the secret of the letters, dead letters,
money orders, and confiscated correspondence.

General Instructions.

The post-offices alone are authorized to sell postage stamps.

The postage stamps are of seven different kinds, which are distinctive by the colour and the
value, viz. : —

5, 10, and 20 paras.

1, 2, 5, and 10 piastres.

The correspondence for foreign countries must not be thrown into the letter boxes, but taken
to the post-offices. Foreign letters must be franked by Egyptian stamps to Alexandria, the foreign
postage must then be paid in the stamps of the country that is charged with the forwarding.

Cairo, December 21st, 1865.

By order of H.H. the Viceroy,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer,

HAFIZ PASHA.
The Postmaster-General
Muzzi-Bey.

From the foregoing decree it is clearly seen that the stamps were intended
only for inland use, and that all foreign letters had to be forwarded as before
by one of the foreign post-offices established in Alexandria. England, France,
Austria, Italy, Belgium, Greece, and Russia had offices there, and even at the
present time France, Italy, Austria, and Greece still forward any letters that
may be handed to them, though the Egyptian Government joined in 1875 the
Union Postale Universelle, and has in consequence the right of forwarding
letters to any part of the globe.

This issue is frequently placed incorrectly in collections, and the only guide
to obviate this is to place the stamp so that the loop of the centre black sur-
charge points upwards. This Central surcharge signifies " masr" or Egypt.

When the stamp has been placed in this position the surcharge on the left
reads " masrije " or Egyptian, at the top " busta " or postage, and on the right
"tamgai" or stamp. The surcharge at the bottom contains the value in letters
as follows : —

besch para = 5 paras.

on u = 10 if

jighirmi // = 20 //

bir grousch = 1 piastre.

iki // = 2 piastres.

besch // = 5 it

on // = 10 "

The whole surcharge is in the Turkish language, and was printed by a
second operation after the stamps were printed.

For the stamps themselves only one original matrix for each value seems to
have been made, and from this the necessary number of cliches. Not in a
single instance, however, does the top half correspond with the bottom half of

238

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

the stamp, and thus, when clamped together to form the printing plate, we find
the two types of each value very often together. If it were not for the sur-
charge we should only have one type, as then we should not know which is
the top and which the bottom of the stamp — in fact, the 5 and 10 paras stamps
ought then to be placed sideways. As a matter of fact, they were depicted
thus in old catalogues.

The design consists of arabesque ornaments in various frames, and each
value is quite distinct, though there is a uniformity in the execution. For the
two lower values the figures are in the top left and the bottom right hand
corners, for the remainder in the top right and the bottom left hand corners.
The stamps are upright, rectangular in shape, and were printed by Fratelli
Pellas, in Genoa, on greyish white wove paper, containing as watermark a
pyramid surmounted by a ten-rayed star, with the exception of the 1 piastre,
which is unwatermarked. They were delivered in Alexandria not perforated,
which was done there as they were required, and this accounts for the many
varieties found in the size of the stamps. This work must have been done
very carelessly, as so many imperforated stamps are found, although strict
instructions had been given not to sell such to the public. Of course there is
no doubt that officials always saw their way to oblige collectors, and also
themselves. The official perforation was ii\. The gum is yellowish white
and thin. Proofs of this issue exist imperforated and printed on thick unwater-
marked paper.

(1). — 5 paras, grey green. Type I.

The ornamentation in the

top border on the left-hand

side next to the figure of

Type I.

Type II.

value is

and the six-

rayed star in the inner
right - hand top corner is
open towards the word
PARA.

(2). — 5 paras, grey green. Type II.

The ornamentation in the

top border on the left-hand

side next to the figure of

value is

and one ray

of the star in the inner right-hand top corner points towards the
word PARA.

(3). — 10 paras, brown. Type I.

The ornamentation in the
top border next to the figure
of value commences verti-

cally, thus

(4).— 10 paras, brown. Type II.

The ornamentation in the
top border next to the figure
of value commences hori-

Type II.

zontally, thus

[nil

THE STAMPS OF EGYPT.

239

(5). — 20 paras, blue. Type I.

The little crescent-shaped
ornamentation over the cen-
tral arabesque is pointed

and nearly closed ajj

(6). — 20 paras, blue. Type II.

The little crescent-shaped
ornamentation over the cen-
tral arabesque is flat and

wide open (^-=^)

(7). — 1 piastre, rose lilac. Type I.
The two scroll ornaments
in the inner oval touch, thus

<^>

(8),

(9)—

touch, thus

1 piastre, rose lilac. Type II.
The two scroll ornaments

in the inner oval do not

(St?)

2 piastres, orange. Type I.
The rope-like ornamenta-

tionunderPE inthe left-hand
top corner has ten strokes.

(10). — 2 piastres, orange. Type II.

The rope-like ornamenta-
tion under PE in the left-
hand top corner has eleven
strokes.

(11).— 5 piastres, rose. Type I.

The loops of the inner
scroll ornamentation touch
both the outer circles con-
taining the value at the top.

(12.) — 5 piastres, rose. Type II.

Theloopsoftheinnerscroll
ornamentation do not touch
both the outer circles con-
taining the value at the top.

(13). — 10 piastres, slate blue. Type I.
A line drawn through the
o of the 10 in the right-
hand top corner would inter-
sect the nearest pearl in the
inner oval.

{\^). — 10 piastres, slate blue. Type II.
A line drawn through the
o of 10 in the right-hand
top corner would pass into
the oval over the nearest
pearl.

Type I.

Type II.

Type I.

Type II.

'wmm

Imperforate Vertically.

240 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

The whole issue exists with watermark inverted, of course with the
exception of the 1 piastre, which is un watermarked. A curious thing in con-
nection with this watermark is, that writer has never seen the 5 paras with the
watermark in the right position ; no doubt it exists, but it must be very rare.

Errors : —
(15). — 5 piastres, rose. Type I. with surcharge of the 10 piastres.

(16). — 5 // // // II. // // // 10

(17). — 10 // slate blue. u I. it u "5

(18). — 10 // a i' II. // // // 5

According to Moens the 2 piastres stamp was cut in half diagonally at
Alexandria from the 16 — 31 July, 1867, during a temporary scarcity of 1 piastre
stamps, and used as such.

The whole issue exists with the Constantinople obliteration, but whether
Egypt had a post-office there is not known to writer.

For specialists the following lists of other varieties may be of interest, but
all of them are unofficial : —

A : — Imperforated-

5 paras, grey green Types I. & II.

10 // brown n »

20 // blue 11 a

1 piastre, roselilac it it

2 piastres, orange // it

5 // rose it a

10 11 slate blue // u

Also the two errors.

B: — Imperforated horizontally, and perforated 12^ vertically : —

5 paras, grey green Types I. & II.

10 // brown // //

20 '/ blue a

1 piastre, roselilac n 11

2 piastres, orange " 1/

5 // rose '/ a

10 11 slate blue u »

C : — Imperforated vertically, and perforated 12 J horizontally: —

5 paras, grey green Types I. & II.

10 // brown it u

20 // blue ,

1 piastre, roselilac ,

2 piastres, orange

5 11 rose

10 it slate blue

D : — Perforated 5 : —

10 piastres, slate blue, with surcharge of the 5 piastres stamp.
This stamp was found by Ferd. Meyer.

II. Issue, is/ of August, 1867.

Decree.

H.H. the Viceroy has approved of a new issue of stamps of 5, 10, 20 paras, and of 1, 2 and 5
piastres, which will be for sale on the 1st of August next.

During the same month the present stamps, as well as the new ones, can be used indifferently
for the franking of letters, patterns, and printed matter. On the 1st of September next the present
stamps cease to frank correspondence, but can be exchanged for new ones. Letters, &c, franked
with Jhem will be considered as not franked.

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA PROVISIONALS. 241

The stamps at present in use can be exchanged at all post-offices until the 31st of October of
this year, after which date they will not be of any value.

This decree, with the reproduction of the new stamps, will be hung up in every post-office
during this time.

The Postmaster-General,

MUZZI BEY.
Alexandria, 11th of July, 1867.

The design consists of a pyramid and sphinx in an oval, the whole sur-
rounded by a double rectangular frame The two top corners contain the word
PARA resp the letters P on the left and E on the right meaning piastre ;
between these there is a label containing the Arabic words " Tamgai" Posta
Masrie," meaning Egyptian postage stamp. The two bottom corners have the
figures of value inscribed on solid ground, between which there is a label con-
taining the value in Arabic as follows : —

Hams parat = 5 paras.

Ashra // = 10 //

Ashrin 1/ = 20 /'

Ghersh Wachet = 1 piastre.

Ghersheen = 2 piastres.

Hamsat Gheroush = 5 //

On the left-hand side there is a representation of Pompey's pillar, and on
the right one of Cleopatra's needle. The stamps are oblong, rectangular in
shape.

The stamps were drawn on stone by E. Hoff, from Hirschberg (Silesia), and
were printed by V. Penasson in Alexandria under the supervision of the Govern-
ment. After printing, the stones were sent to the head quarters of the postal
service at Cairo. A second printing was necessary in July, 1869. Printed in
colour on medium to thick white wove paper and watermarked, or, more cor-
rectly speaking, relief impressed with a crescent and a five-pointed star. The
gum is yellowish, sometimes giving the paper a yellowish tinge. Perforated
15 X I2±.

Four separate stamps for each value were drawn on stone, varying in several
points, and thus we have four distinct types of each in this issue.

(To be continued).

#^eN«s-

British ^outA Africa provisionals.

By Capt. Norris Newman, F.R.G.S.

N the outbreak of the rebellion in Rhodesia, toward the end of
March, 1896, the post office authorities in Bulawayo found them-
selves left with only a very small stock in hand of the old issue by
Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., and those only of low values, whilst the
Civil Commissioner's office had also only a small number of sheets
of the higher values from 2s. 6d. upwards, used for both postal
and revenue purposes, although the head office in Salisbury had just received
large quantities of the new issues — which, by the bye, are too large and ugly
in the extreme— and of which only the id. variety had been sent to Buluwayo.
The use of stamps for revenue purposes almost necessarily ceased during the
rebellion, when all civil work was paralysed. Communication with Salisbury
being entirely cut off for weeks, and the stock in hand having run out, other

242 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

means had to be taken to provide the more common values, viz., id. for local
work and receipts, and, later on, 3d. for outside communication ; though
as the postage to England was 6d. I cannot quite make out why a 6d.
provisional was not also issued ; the only reason that I can see was that the
rate to other parts of South Africa being 4c!., the authorities thought the id.
and 3d. would make up that rate, whilst two of the 3d. would take a letter to
England. There being only a short supply of higher values available for sur-
charging at all, and the expense being heavy in each case, it was resolved that
none of the stamps so surcharged should be sold to the public, and that all
letters should be handed over the counter to the Post Office official, with the
amount due for postage in money, when the department would affix the stamps
and deface them.

Early in April the Civil Commissioner wanted some penny stamps for
receipts, &c, and not caring to lessen the small number of ^d. and id. left in the
Post Office, sent seven sheets (sixty each) of the 3d. value, being all he had in
his possession, to the Government printing office for surcharging to id., which
was done somewhat carelessly. The seven sheets of the 3d. had no errors or
varieties, but the 4s. value had four errors on the first sheet, viz., the capital
"P" in " Penny" reversed. Then again, one sheet had only a one line
debarment, whereas the proper number was three. This was at once altered.
On the following day, after sending the seven sheets of 3d., eighteen sheets
of the 4s. value were sent to be surcharged with the same "One Penny" over-
print. But the lot were issued on the same day.

Meanwhile, seeing that postal communication was fairly regular by the
Bulawayo-Mafeking route, and that the weekly postage requirements of the
public were greater than was expected or calculated upon, the authorities wired
to the Cape office, asking them to get a number of sheets of the Cape stamps
of different values surcharged and sent up as soon as possible. All the values
except the 8d. having run clear out during April in the Post Office, fifty sheets
of the 5s. were sent to be surcharged down to 3d. This was done in a better
and bolder type. The first sheet showed only four errors, two R's on the top
half pane and two T's on the right half pane being found reversed. This was
altered, and all the other sheets were without error or variation.

The quantities printed of these provisionals were, therefore, as follows : —

.7 sheets of 60 each of "One Penny" on 3d., making 420
18 sheets of 60 each of do. on 4s., making 1080

50 sheets of 60 each of "Three Pence" on 5s., making 3000

These stamps lasted until the 22nd of May, when the new stock from the
Cape arrived and were issued to the public. The quantities received were as
follows : —

sheets of -^d. in four panes of 60 each, 240 stamps, making 24,000

do 36,000

do 18,000

do 2,600

do 9,000

do 3,900

So that the 3d. and 6d. values are the rarest and will be difficult to obtain
hereafter. There are several minor varieties of type on each sheet (from four
to five) consisting of broken letters, long letters, and, here and there, a slight
double surcharge.

100 sheets 01 ^d. in ii

our panes c

)i 60 1

150 sheets of id. ...

do. ...

do.

j 5 sheets of 2d. ...

do. ...

do.

11 sheets of 3d.

do. ...

do.

37J sheets of 4d.

do. ...

do.

16-5- sheets of 6d. ...

do. ...

do.

LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION, 1897.

243

London ^hilaiolic Qxhihition, 1892.

T a Meeting of the General Committee held on 24th Sept., 1896, at
the rooms of the Philatelic Society of London, Effingham House,
Arundel Street, Strand, the List of the General Committee was finally
settled as given below. From this General Committee of represen-
tative collectors and dealers, an Executive Committee of twenty
collectors and dealers was chosen to plan and carry out the active
work of the Exhibition. We append the List of the Executive. As will be
seen, it is also very representative, but it is chosen exclusively from those who
felt at liberty to make a more or less unconditional sacrifice of their time and
convenience for the purposes of the Exhibition. It speaks volumes for the
probable success of the venture that so many admittedly busy men have placed
themselves so unreservedly at the disposal of the General Committee.

General Committee.

E. D. Bacon.

C. N. Biggs.
M. P. Castle.

E. Ehrenbach.
Major E. B. Evans.
D. Garth.

T. Wickhani Jones.
T. Mavcock.
H. E. Oldfield.

E. Pearce.
J. A. TiUeard.

(Members of the Council of the Philatelic Society, London).

Manchester Philatelic Society.

W. Doming Beckton, President.
A. H. Harrison, Hon. Sec.

Liverpool Philatelic Society

F. B Broadway, President.
M. Broad, Hon. See.

Birmingham Philatelic Society.
W. T. Wilson, President.

G. Johnson, J Ion. Sec.

Brighton Philatelic Society.
Baron A. De Worms, Hon. s c.

Oxford Philatelic Society.

J. A. H. Murray, M.A., L.L.D.,

D.C.L., President.
F. A. Bellamy, Hon. S c.

Sheffield Philatelic Society
C. B. Hunt, President.
E. Sneath Hon. Sec.

Plymouth Philatelic Society.

Capt. E. W. H. Stockdale, R.B., President.
W. J. W. Miller, Hon. Sec.

Bradford Philatelic Society.

O. Firth, President.
W. H. Scott, Hon. Sec.

Cambridge Philatelic Society.

Oscar Browning, Esq., President.
H. D. Catling, lion. Sec.

Leeds Philatelic Society.
J. H. Thackrah, President.
W. Denison Eoebuck.
F. K. Skipwith, Hon. Sec.

J. II. Abbott.
\\r. 15. Avery.
F. G. Bepler.
W. W. Blest.

D. Brosnan.
P. M. Bright.
Theo Buhl.

E. Clarke.

II. J. Duveen.

H. L' Estrange Ewen.

M. Ghvelb.

E. S. Gibbons.

F. H. Ginn.
S. E Gwyer.
W. Hadlow.

E. Hawkins.
Harry Hilek.es.
Pearson Hill.

G. F. Hvnes.
W. R. Joynt.
II. A. Kennedy.
C. Whitheld Kiiu
C. J. Lambert.
W. Lincoln. '

P. J. Lloyd.

C. Lockver.

W.Morley.

P. J. Nankivell.

Lieut. F. ]ST. Napier,

J. A. Nix.

W. H. Peekitt.

C. J. Phillips.

F. Bansom.

Rev. P. E. Ray nor.

T. Rid path.

Vernon Roberts.

Walter Scott.
Gordon Smith.
B. T. K. Smith.
J. Scott Stokes.
T. H. Thompson.
Rev. W. N. Usher.
Capt, R. A.Vansitturt.
Dr. C. W. Yiner.
— Winch.
W. T. Willett.
A. H. Wilson.
Hastings E. Wright.

Executive Committee.

W. B. Avery.
E. D. Bacon.
W. D. Beckton.
M. P. Castle.
E. Ehrenbach.

Major Evans.
M. Giwelb.
S. E. Gwyer.
W. Hadlow.
G. F. Hynes.

T. W. Jones.
T. Maycock.
E. J. Nankivell.
H. E. Oldfield.
W. H. Peckett.

C. J. Phillips.
E. Pearce.
Gordon Sniith.
J. A. Tilleard.
W. T. W^ilson.

244 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

^he postmasters QonoraV s Report.

HE forty-second annual report of the Postmaster-General has been
submitted to the Lords of the Treasury by the Duke of Norfolk,
and was published on the 24th of August last. We take the
following excellent summary of the report from The Times : —

The report gives an account of the business of the Depart-
ment for the year ended March 31, 1896. It is estimated that
during that year the number of postal packets delivered in the United King-
dom was: — Letters, 1,834,200,000; postcards, 314,500,000; book packets,
circulars, and samples, 672,300,000; newspapers, 149,000,000; parcels,
60,527,000. This makes a total of 3,030,527,000 postal packets in one year,
or an average of 77 to each person. There is an increase under every head,
except newspapers, where the decrease is very slight.

The Duke of Norfolk, in his present report, takes as his starting point the
year before the establishment of uniform penny postage. In that year, 1839,
the number of letters (including six million franks) which passed through the
post was 82 millions, and in the following year under penny postage it rose to
169 millions. Up to 1870, or during the first thirty years after the introduction
of penny postage, the changes in the postal rates had not been extensive, but
in 1870 changes greater than any which had occurred since the reform of 1839
were made.

On October 1, 1870, postcards were introduced ; the rate for book packets and samples was
reduced to ^d. for 2oz. ; and the rate for newspapers was fixed at £d irrespective of weight. In
the following year the letter rate of postage, up to 12oz. was reduced to the present scale of Id.
for the first ounce, ^d. for the second ounce, and an additional £d. for each additional 2oz The
sample post Mas abolished at the same time.

The rates of postage for letters were not again altered till 1885, when postage on weights
above 12oz. was reduced to |d for each additional 2oz.

The book and newspaper rates have since remained unaltered, but a great stimulus was given
to the book post in 1892, when greater freedom was given both in the mode of packing and in the
definition of a book packet.

To complete this summary of the changes of the conditions of the post it ought to be added
that the price of postcards and the conditions of their use have been changed from time to time
since their first introduction in 1870.

In 1872 a charge of a halfpenny a dozen in addition to the stamp was made. In 1875 stout
cards were first issued, and the charge for thin cards raised to Id. a dozen.

In 1889 the present rates — viz., Id. for 10 stout cards and £d. for 10 thin cards — were fixed,
and stout cards began to displace thin cards to the extent of 18 millions a year. On September 1,
1894, private cards first passed under a halfpenny adhesive stamp. Cards of " court" size were
issued on January 21, 1895. In consequence of these various changes, in 1894-95 the number of
postcards of all sorts rose from 272 to 313 millions, while the number of official postcards showed
of 31 millions.

A table then shows the growth of the business of the Department, from the
82 millions of letters in 1839 to the 1,834 millions in 1895-96, and the total of
postal packets from 600 millions in 1856-60 to 3,030 millions in the last year.

In connection with this historical sketch, the Duke of Norfolk gives
particulars of the revenue and expenditure of the Post Office at different
periods. The total revenue in 1839 was ^2,435,040, and the expenditure
^756,999. In 1871-72 the postal revenue was ^5,322'35^ and the telegraph
2 754,634, or a total of ^6,076,990 ; while the expenditure was ^4,473,967.
In 1895-96 these figures had risen to £1 1,759,945 postal and ^2,879,794
telegraph, a total of ^14,639,739. The expenditure was ^11,007,617, leaving
a net revenue of ^3,632,122. It should be noticed here that the Telegraph
Department has for the last five years shown a deficit. This deficit was
^178,439 in 1893-94, and decreased to ^34,787 in the year under considera-
tion.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL S REPORT. 245

With regard to the decrease in newspapers the Duke of Norfolk says : —

For the decrease in late years in the numher of newspapers passing by post I am unable to
account, but I presume that it is due to increased energy and improved system on the part of the
great newsagents.

From the revenue point of view the tendency to relieve the Post Office of the duty of dis-
tributing newspapers is no matter for regret, for, as has been often stated in public, the State
loses much money by the work.

The number of parcels delivered in the United Kingdom was 60,527,000,
an increase of nearly 6 per cent. The average postage per parcel is now
5*44d., of which the Post Office share is 2*86d. The number of registered
parcels has been 662,196. The total number of rail-borne parcels was
52,196,217, an increase of 5*3 per cent., and of road-borne parcels 8,331,221,
an increase of 9*5 on last year.

The express delivery service, which came into operation in 1891, shows an
increase of 33 per cent, during the present year, the number of express
services having been 363,971. Two-thirds of the total number of services
have been performed in London. The number of returned packets dealt with
were as follows: — Letters, 6,331,086; postcards, 1,016,005; book packets,
9,538,097 ; newspapers, 707,004 ; patterns and samples, 62,769 ; parcels,
146,407. The report says : —

The decrease in the number of postcards and books is, no doubt, due to the abolition of the
charge for the re-direction of these classes of packets, the Post Office having thereby been enabled
to deliver a large proportion of these packets to the addresses.

The value of property found in letters which were opened in the Returned Letter Office
exceeded £580,000, and, in addition to these, many registered letters having the name and address
of the sender outside were returned unopened.

The letters posted without any address were 31,879, of which 2,183 contained property of the
value of £3,860. The number of parcels found in the post without address was 6,462. The
corresponding numbers for the previous five years were as follows: — 1890-91,9,986; 1891-92,
9,350 ; 1892-93, 8,263; 1893-94, 5,343 ; 1894-95, 5,631.

The decrease in the number of such parcels between 1891 and 1894 was no doubt due to the
efforts made by the Postmaster-General of the day to warn the public against the use of " tie
on " labels, which are often insecurely fastened to the parcels. It is to be regretted that the
numbers should have risen in the last two years. I hope that the attention now drawn to the
matter may cause greater care to be taken by the public in the protection of the property which
they intrust to the post.

The facilities for posting letters in London with late fee for Sunday night
mails have been extended to more offices. The average number of letters so
posted last year reached nearly 3,000 each Sunday. The money-order system
has been extended during the year to Finland and Servia and certain places in
the Levant. The actual number of postal orders during the year has been
64,076,377, representing ,^23,896,594 7s. 6d. In the Post Office Savings
Banks the amount due to depositors at the end of 1895 was ^97,868,975, and
the number of accounts open was 6,453,597.

During the year 78,839,600 telegrams of all descriptions were forwarded,
showing an increase over the previous year of more than 10 per cent. Of
these 5,915,646 telegrams were transmitted at Press rates, an increase of 9*5
per cent.

With regard to the National Telephone Company, the arrangement arrived
at, after negotiations extending over four years, was executed on March 25.
On July 16, 1895, the system was thrown open to the public, and there has
been a steady development of the business.

From the financial point of view the past year has been one of unexampled
prosperity in the Post Office. The general election and the revival of trade
have enabled the Postmaster-General to realise a profit of ^3,632,122.

Two hundred and sixty-four new post-offices and 1,087 new letter-boxes have been added
during the last year. There are now 27,622 letter-boxes and 20,398 post-offices in the United
Kingdom. Money-order and savings-bank business is transacted at about 11,000 offices, telegraph
business is transacted at 7,653, but, in addition, telegraph business is performed for the Post Office
at 2,273 railway stations. New telegraph offices have been opened during the past year at 244
post-offices and 21 railway stations.

246 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

postal Reform in @kina.

Translated from der Ostasiatische Lloyd in the American Journal of Philately.

N view of the approaching establishment of an Imperial postal service in
China on the European pattern, a birds-eye view of the existing postal
service, as well as its past history, ought to be of general interest. The
service itself was always in the care of the Ministry of War. It was during
the supremacy of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that the transmission of
passengers and mails acquired considerable importance, and began to be
well handled. However, in the 17th century, this system fell from its high
plane, because the Government officials began to exploit it for personal advantage.
It was only on the accession of the second Mantschu Emperor that the service again
achieved its previous success, and in fact became greatly extended. The conquest of
new territories made good and regular connection more necessary than ever. For the
management and general control of this service a special class of officials were ap-
pointed, who were under the supervision of the Minister of War. At the stations, the
majority of which were located on the principal roads, all the necessaries for expedi-
tion, such as horses, camels, wagons, boats, &c, were held in readiness.

The service was divided into two classes. By the means of the first Imperial
despatches and by the second passengers and baggage, as well as war material, were
forwarded. This Imperial Post is at present administered by the Postmaster-General,
whose office is in Peking. The branches are restricted to the provincial capitals, and
Yice-Postmasters are in charge. These officials are selected exclusively out of the
upper military class. The Imperial post was to forward only imperial edicts, regula-
tions, and similar official writings, however, in reality, the messengers also carry the
private correspondence of the upper classes. The carriers are especially selected and
enjoy a number of privileges, as, for instance, the right to live at hotels and obtain
food for their horses free of charge.

The second division is known as ' ' General Postal Service ( Yuting) ; " it extends
over all of China. The main office is in Peking, and in every Chinese city that is walled
in there is a branch. The Taotais, or District Governors, are generally the Postmasters
of their respective districts. They name their subordinates who act as local post-
masters. The latter again control and are responsible for the carriers and messengers.
Each one of these must forward the mail from his station to those points which are
nearest to his centre. The average distance between these does not exceed 100 li.
(about 40 English miles). At every station there is a man who keeps accounts of all
letters received and forwarded. All post office buildings are the property of the
government.

Almost all official documents, which are to be forwarded, bear a superscription
which states how quickly they are to be carried. Ordinary documents are marked
200 li (about 80 miles) per day ; those which are to be especially expedited are ex-
pected to travel 400 li, and those which are in great haste, as much as 800 li per
day. The messenger must traverse this distance, no matter what the state of
the weather may be, otherwise he is subject to punishment. The best time which
has ever been made in China is 280 German miles (nearly 1400 miles) in four days, or
almost 14 miles per hour. This occurred in the year 1851 in the Taiping Rebellion.
The expense of this postal service is borne by the provincial authorities.

As perfect as the Imperial postal system of China may have been, even in former
centuries, it was never used to any extent by the commercial or private interests.
Even had they been permitted to send letters or packets by the means of this service,
it is still doubtful if they would have availed themselves of the privilege, as the
officials would have been suspected of tampering with private letters. In consequence,
independent postal agencies were established in the cities and market towns for the
convenience of bankers, merchants, and private individuals, which undertook the
forwarding of letters and packets. In the large cities there are generally several of
these private enterprises, and these produce considerable competition. As a result,
it occurs more frequently than anywhere in the world, that postal officials collect
mail matter from the houses of customers instead of the latter sending letters and
packets to the office itself.

These private postal enterprises entrust the mail matter either to native boats which

POSTAL REFORM IN CHINA. 247

travel regularly between the different cities, or to letter carriers the majority of whom
bravel on foot, although occasionally they go on horseback. Every one of the postal
)oats referred to has a special man on board, who is entrusted with the reception and
lelivery, as well as the care, of the letters in the mail. All letters are registered at
he office of receipt, the contents are insured up to their full value, and great liberality
\ shown in the matter of weight. The postage need not necessarily be paid in ad-
vance, but as a rule the writer pays about 30 per cent, of it, the remainder being paid
If the recipient. These postal agencies frequently carry running accounts with their
cistomers, which are settled monthly. If the writer is particular to have a letter
delivered rapidly and safely, he writes on the envelope a promise of payment of a
li>eral sum in copper coin on the delivery of the letter.

The transmission of mail matter through letter carriers is also rapid and safe. On
tb average, these men traverse a geographical mile (four and three fifths English
mles) per hour. As soon as they reach their destination, that is the next station to
wHch their letters are addressed, they immediately hand the mail to another man,
wb, without regard to the condition of the weather, must immediately start on his
wa7, and having arrived at the next station, hand it over to a third messenger, which
process is repeated until the final destination is reached. As the country, through
whch the carriers walk, is frequently a mere waste and but thinly inhabited, they
areexposed to the attacks of robbers. For protection against these attacks they are
always armed.

[n regard to the rates, they are not fixed, although, in general, fixed rates are
male to regular customers, while occasional correspondents must pay considerably
moie. For short distances, the rates are lower than in Germany ; for longer distances,
saybeyond a radius of 50 miles, they are naturally high, as the dispatches must be
traisf erred so many times.

This private postal system answers the requirements pretty well. Letters and
paciets are delivered just as safely, even if a little less rapidly, than they are with us.
Lar^e sums of money are also sent by this means. The money, in case it is sent by
boa", is weighed by the captain of the vessel, who makes out a receipt and, for a
small percentage, he gnarantees to pay the money to the party addressed. Thefts
are of rare occurrence.

ji the Spring of 1893, Sir Robert Hart, the chief inspector of Chinese maritime
customs, addressed a letter to the Foreign Office in Peking in regard to the institution
of a postal system in China after the pattern of similar institutions existing in Europe.
Thii memorial was also sanctioned by the throne. In accordance with the proposed
scheme, every capital or province was to be endowed with a non-resident Director of
Posts, and every capital of a province with a non-resident subaltern postal official.
Thar assistants were to be chosen from the Chinese population, but it was to be
reqiired that they be familiar with the English language. In the country towns, as
wei as in the cities of the second and third rank, the post office was to be administered
by Chinese. This scheme referred only to the non-treaty ports and the interior of
the country. In the treaty ports the postal administration was to be administered in
connection with the custom house. It was intended to retain the existing carrier
service, but the private postal agencies were to be abolished, while retaining, so far
as possible, in the new administration, the people employed in these private agencies.

After three years, this project has finally ripened. Sir Eobert Hart has been
appointed General Postal Director, and, according to all appearances, the new service
should be in operation in a few weeks. The Chinese newspaper Schenpao publishes
the rules and regulations promulgated by Sir Eobert Hart for the new Imperial
post. It is stated therein that these regulations are intended only to cover the
general outlines of the postal service, and that more minute regulations will follow
later on.

Organization.

The customs post offices in the different treaty ports shall in future be designated
as Imperial Post Offices. The places at which such post offices exist shall be con-
sidered as belonging to the Universal Postal Union. The remainder are not as yet
included therein.

The management of the Imperial Post Offices in the sea-ports shall be under
the charge of the customs commissioners, who shall co-operate with the Chinese
customs superintendents.

The existing postal service in Peking, which is under the General Customs Inspec-
tion, shall be raised to the dignity of the Chief Imperial Post Office. It shall have
control over the different Imperial Post Offices in the sea-ports, and receives its
authority from the " Tsungli Yamen " (Council of State).

248 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

As the post office in Shanghai will be the most important office of transit, specia
officials shall be appointed for it, but they shall also be subject to the authority o
the customs commissary and customs superintendent.

The director of the Bureau of Statistics in Shanghai shall have general supervision
over the postal service. All reports of postmasters, to the general inspector of cu-
toms, shall pass through his hands.

Later on, branch postal establishments, with special employees, shall be estal-
lished in places adjacent to the treaty ports, like Taku, and Tongku near Tientsii,
also at railroad and telegraph stations, in Wysung near Shanghai, Tschenhai nar
Ningpo, Pagoda Anchorage near Futschau, Whangpo near Canton, Wuhsueh neir
Kiukiang, Aking and Tatung near Wuhu, Nanking near Tschingkiang, &c.

Method of Transmission.

The post office transmits letters, postal cards, samples and printed matter. rhe
transmission of single articles will be either in large mail bags or separately. In
shipments in transit, the mail bags will not be opened, and mail matter for the iniae-
diate neighbourhood will be unpacked and distributed either piece by piece or pltced
into a new bag for further transmission.

Each mail sack will be accompanied by an exact description of its contents. The
receiving post office, in the first instance, shall make out a receipt for the matta- to
be forwarded, after it has convinced itself that the mail matter on the waybill has
actually been delivered to it.

From one seaport to another transmission of the mail will be by steamer, aid in
the inland by the means of Chinese private offices, with which special arrange uents
will have to be made, and notice of which is to be given to the public.

Postage.

The rate of postage is different, according to whether letters go from seaport to
seaport, into the inland, or to foreign countries. For foreign letters it shall be regu-
lated by Art. 5 and 6 of the Universal Postal Uuion agreement. If a foreign leter is
to be sent through an Imperial post office into the inland, to a place which e not
included in the Universal Postal Union, the receiver has to pay the inland postage in
addition. Likewise, for letters from an inland station to foreign countries, the smder
has to prepay inland postage. The amount of this inland postage is to be deternined
and collected by the private post office establishments.

For transmission from one treaty port to another the following scale shall apply : —

Post cards 1 c.

Letters up to \ Chinese oz. (Taelj .... 2 c.

,, ,, £ oz 4 c.

,, ,, 1 oz 8 c.

and upwards on the same scale.

Newspapers, Chinese 1 c.

,, European 2 c.

Samples and Printed Matter, per 2 oz. 2 c.

For registered letters an additional impost is collected. A receipt is to be given
therefor. For foreign letters, the regulations contained in Art. 5-7 of the Universal
Postal Union agreement are to govern. For a return receipt in addition to the cost
of registration, double the impost is to be paid.

All private postal establishments are compelled to inform the nearest post office of
their rates, in order that they may be made public.

For the prepayment of foreign letters, and letters addressed to treaty ports,
special stamps shall be printed, which are to be pasted on the letters. These stamps
shall be sold at the post offices, and at such stores as may be designated by them.
Counterfeiting of these stamps will be punished in the same way as the counterfeiting
of bank notes.

Shipments of Money.

The post office undertakes also the transmission of money from one Postal Union
office to another, but only in sums not exceeding 100 Taels. The sender receives a
receipt for his shipment.

Transmission of Packets.

Later on, as soon as the postal service has been further developed, it will also, as
in Europe, transmit packets. The regulations governing the weight of the packets,
their bulk, and the charges will be determined later on.

POSTAL REFORM IN CHINA. . 249

Eelation of the Post Offices to the Private Postal Establishments.

If a private postal establishment desires to forward letters by steamer, via an open
port, it must send them in a closed bag to the Imperial Posb Office in that port,
which shall attend to the transmission, bat in no case shall they be sent direct to the
steamer. For this service it has to pay the regular rates of postage for intermediate
ports. The Imperial Post Offic- is to receive a receipt; from the private postal estab-
lishment to which the mail bag is addressed.

If private postal establishments desire to be admitted into the Universal Postal
Union, they will have to be registered in an Imperial Post Office, and will have to
obtain a certificate, which, however, will be issued free of charge. If, later on, they
desire to sever their connection with the Union, the certificate must be returned for
cancellation.

Penalties.

Post Office officials, who open letters or packets and violate the secrecy of the
mails, shall not only be disciplined, but shall be punished according to the laws of
their respective states.

Only registration offices are permitted to forward letters within the circuit of the
Imperial Post Office. Whoever forwards letters unauthorized shall be subjected to a
punishment of 50 Taels for every piece of mail matter so forwarded.

Steamship companies, captains, sailors, and passengers on steamers plying between
the treaty ports shall be prohibited from cirrying letters which should properly be
carried by the post. Every infringement of this law shall be punished by a fine of
500 Taels. Open private papers, letters of lecommendation, business and ships letters
are not included under this head.

Accounting.

All post offices are to furnish a monthly account of receipts and disbursements to
the director of the Bureau of Statistics in Shanghai, who, in turn, shall periodically
send tabulated accounts to the General Inspector of Customs, who shall present them
to the Tsungli Yamen.

Eecords.

All in and outgoing mail matter is to be entered in the register. The blanks
therefore are to be patterned according to Art. 4 and 17, and to Paragraphs 23 and 24
of the special regulations.

Overland Post in Winter.

On account of the freezing over of the Eivers in Northern China, the mail shall,
in Winter, be forwarded overland from Tschingkiang to Tschifu, Tientsin, Peking and
Niutschuang. The post offices concerned in this service shall publish all further
regulations in regard to it.

Tschungking and Yangtse Ports.

The post office in Tschungking shall for the present forward only single letters
and not mail bags. If private postal establishments desire to have any of the latter
forwarded, they must send them to the Imperial Post Office in Itschang. Mengtse
and Lungtschau shall also for the present forward only single letters.

Imperial Post Offices, with specijl officials under the customs commissaries, shall
be established at the six Yaugtse ports: Lu-hsi-kon, Wu-hsueh, Hukou, Angking,
Tatung and Nanking.

Transmission of Letters from and to Foreign Countries.

The transmission of letters to a country belonging to the Universal Postal Union,
after China shall have entered the Union, shall be in accordance with its rules.

Letters from foreign countries must be delivered direct to the addressee by an
Imperial Post Office ; they shall not be permitted to use any intermediate service.
Only, in case such letters are sent via Shanghai, to a place not included in the Postal
Union, they will have to be sent by the Shanghai Post Office to a registered private
postal establishment for further transmission. The latter shall collect the inland
postage from the recipient in accordance with its own schedule rates.

If an Imperial Post Office has no direct steam connection, it shall send the letters
for further transmission to a post office with such connection. The charges for such
service shall be in accordance with the rates of the Postal Union.

250 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

jfcevievDs,

Hilckes' Auction Summary.

Hilckes' Auction Summary for the Season 1894 — 5. A complete Guide to the Values
Postage Stamps. Compiled and arranged by Harry Hilckes. London : Harry
Hilckes & Co., Ltd., 64, Cheapside. Price is. 6d. cloth.

This is the second year of publication of Mr. Hilckes' Auction Summary.
Many little improvements have been introduced. The size is slightly reduced
in width to make it more convenient for the pocket. Black-face type has been
used to better distinguish the various stamps. The former notation, classifying
mint, average, and damaged copies is wisely retained. It is the nearest approach
to efficient classification that has yet been suggested, and without some such
separation the value of the record of prices would necessarily be somewhat
vague. The date of sale of each copy is given, and also an initial indicating
the auctioneer. The little book is excellently got up, and is a monument of
patient skill that we trust will be appreciated. It is an invaluable record that
we hope to see continued on the same lines for many years. Whilst the
compiler admits, in his preface, that there is a difference of opinion as to the
actual value of market prices, we quite agree with him " that although some
prices may not be reliable, a whole season's report should be a fair reflection
of actual market value." They certainly are the best, if not the only, guide to
prices at which a collector may hope to realise. Probably they range on the
whole, somewhat below average catalogue values. It is natural that they should,
seeing that the bulk of the purchases are by dealers for the purpose of re-
plenishing their stocks.

Norwegian Stamps.

Price List of Norwegian Stamps: wholesale and retail, and for Specialists. Hubert
Buckley, Rosenkrantz Gd. 2. Kristiana, Norway. Gratis.

Mr. Buckley sends us a very beautifully printed and most elaborate
catalogue of Norwegian issues that should delight the heart of the specialist.
Every variety of type known to the specialist is given and priced, used and
unused. With such a clear guide before him the veriest tyro may safely
specialise in Norwegians, and he may do so, with the knowledge that he will
find very few countries of the cheaper class so enjoyable, and so full of
interesting varieties.

A Catalogue for Beginners.

The American Standard Catalogue of all Postage Stamps. 1896 Edition. The
/. W. Scott Co. Ltd., ^o,fohn Street, New Fork City. Price 25 cents.

Mr. J. W. Scott in this catalogue has omitted all reference to watermarks,
as he holds that these are entirely out of place in the album of the general
collector, while the specialist can study them" to better advantage in the hand-
books of the countries he may be interested in. Perforated are distinguished
from imperforated, but varieties of perforation are not given. These limitations
seem to us to be wise and necessary. Nothing is more discouraging to the
junior collector, and even to the ordinary general collector, than the puzzling
varieties of perforation in which the specialist of to-day finds so much
pleasure.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

251

J^ovoltieQ and ^iscovoriQs.

Antioquia. — On loth June last,
the Monthly Circular, the new series made
its appearance, and is said to have been
manufactured in the United States. The
type resembles that of 1892, but the
numerals of value above the word
centavos is now in the centre under the
arms. The stamps are engraved and
printed on plain white wove paper. The
perforation is 14.

Adh

"sives

2 centavos

grey

■zk

reddish-brown

„

vermilion-red

5
0
0
0

green
violet

orange-bistre
grey-bistre

British Central Africa. — Messrs.
Whitfield King, and Co. write us as
follows concerning the " One Penny" pro-
visional with double surcharge, chronicled
in our last issue (p. 221) :

We have just received a letter from the
Postmaster of the B.C. A. Protectorate contain-
ing some additional information about the
doubly surcharged Id. on 2d. This is quite a
different type to the ordinary variety, which is
thus accounted for : — 100 sheets of 60 of the
•2d. stamps were sent to the Government
printing office at Elantyre to be surcharged
" One Penny." After putting one sheet
through the press twice over, it was sent in to
the P.M. (J-., who was dissatisfied, and not con-
sidering that the overprinting could be done
properly in B.C. A. he recalled the remaining
99 sheets and sent them to the P.M.G. of the
Cape of Good Hope to be surcharged.
Accordingly one sheet was done at Blantyre
and 99 sheets at Cape Town. This will explain
the difference in the two types.

British Guiana.— Mr. A. E. Tuttle
has shown the American Journal of
Philately an uncatalogued variety of the
4c. 1863, on thin paper ; it is perforated
11 £ all round, a new gauge for this series.

Adhesive Stat/ip.
4c. blue, 1863, perforated nj,

British South Africa.— We learn
that the wretchedly printed stamps of
the current issue will shortly be replaced
by another issue of practically the same
design, but redrawn and re- en graved.
In the redrawing, sundry improvements
have been introduced ; the most noticeable
of these will be found on the top of the
stamp, and in the ribbon that crosses the
legs of the supporters on each side of the
central arms. The upper labels of value

will in the new series be raised to the
level of the top of the design. In the
current set they drop below it. The
ribbon which crosses the legs of the
supporters in the current design will be
curled up clear of the legs in the new
stamps. With the addition of a £1
stamp the values and colours will — at
least for the present — remain unchanged.
The new stamps are being engraved and
printed by Messrs. Waterlow.

Bundi State (Rajputana).— A cor-
respondent sends the Monthly Journal a
small block of stamps, which were sent
him at the end of last year as specimens
of an issue for this State. Major Evans
describes the design as an exceedingly
rough copy of that of the Alwar stamps,
and says no doubt exists in as many
types as there are stamps on the sheet,
the eighth in the block being each more
rudely drawn than its neighbour. They
appear to him to be lithographed, on
thin, greyish wove paper, imperforate.
Adhesive.
1 anna ('?), grey-blue.

Canada.— The | cent, adhesive, is said
to have been retouched and the whole
stamp lightened up.

Cyprus. — We learn from Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co. that the 2 piastres
of the bi-coloured scries has now ap-
peared, and that }2 piastre will be issued
at the end of this month (Sept.)

It may be of interest to put on record
the exact numbers of the now obsolete
Cyprus stamps which have been issued
up to the time of their being superseded
by the bi-coloured series.

For this we are also indebted to Messrs.
W. K. & Co. The numbers are : —

£ piastre, green 3,039,840

30 peras. mauve 187,920

1 piastre, rose 424,800

2 piastres, blue 983,700

4 piastres, olive green 90,000

6 piastres, slate 54,000

12 piastres, vermilion red 19,000

Fernando Po— We have the follow-
ing from Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. : —

Adhesives.

1/8 centavo, slate.
6 c, de peso, lilac.
12J c, de peso, brown.
20 c, de peso, blue.
25 c, de peso, rose.
Provisional.
5c. on roc. de peso, brown, black sur.

252

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Fiji.— Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
send us the Id. value changed in colour
from black to mauve.

Adhesive.
id., mauve.

Great Britain.— We are indebted to
Mr. H. L'Estrange Ewen for an early
specimen of the Army Official Stamp
issued on September 1st. He informs us
that there are three values : — |d., Id., and
2 id. The overprint on the 2^d. is in
thicker type, and the words are 9^ mm,
apart instead of 12 mm.

Adhesives .

Army Official Stamps.

Jd., vermilion ; sur. in black,
id., lilac ; sur. in black.
2id., purple on blue ; sur. in black.

Greece. — A correspondent of the
Monthly Journal describes a specimen of
the 1 lepton first type, Athens print,
which appears to be a heavily - inked
impression from a worn plate, the cross
at the right top corner and the Greek-
pattern border at the right side being
quite invisible. He also tells of a variety
of the 20 1., red, of the second type, on
laid paper.

Gwalior.— Our contemporaries have
chronicled 1he higher values of India sur-
charged for this State in English and in
native characters, and also the 2^a.

Adhesives.

2-i- annas, green.

i rupee, carmine and green.

2 rupees, carmine and brown.

3 ,, brown and green.
s ,, blue and violet.

Holland.— We are indebted to Mr.
J. R. Robert for a copy of a 50 cent,
value in the type of larger size of the
2gl. 50c. The outer portion of the stamp
is printed in green, and the medallion
of the young queen in the centre in
brown. Perf. \\\.

Adhesive.
50c. green, centre brown

Japan.— We have received the Com-
memorative War Stamps which we
illustrate. They are intended to com-
memorate two heroes who lost their lives
in the War with China — Prince Arisu-
gawa, and Prince Kitaskirakawa.

There are two sets of two values =4 ; 2
sen. and 5 sen., each of the portraits being
repeated on each value ; but which is
'Aris and which is Kit, we are unable to

say. We understand that these stamps
are intended to be a permanent issue.

Adhesive;.
2 sen, portrait of Prince Arisugawa.
5 sen, portrait of Prince Kitashirakawa.

A dhesives.

2 sen, portrait of Prince Kitashirakawa.
5 sen, portrait of Prince Arisugawa.

Madagascar. — Le Collectionneur de
Timbres Paste gives the numbers of the
stamps recently surcharged in Mada-
gascar to supply a want of certain
values as follows: —

5 on 1 c, 500 25 on 3c, 900

15 on 2 c, 900 j 25 on 4 c, 900

25 on 40 c, 1,000

They were not sold to the public, but
affixed to letters at the Post Office. The
Decree does not mention a 25 on 2c.
which it may be hoped does not exist,

The same journal says 21,000 copies
of the 1 franc stamp had the name

"MADAGASCAR ET DEPEND ANCES " printed

in error in blue, instead of rose.

Adhesives.
i fr., blue and bronze ; error.

New South Wales.— The Australian
Philatelist announces that : —

Owing to Fiji having agreed to accept
letter cards at the intercolonial rate of l|d\,
an alteration has been made in the inscription
on the hack of the New South Wales letter
card, which has been effected by _ obliterating
the word ''and" after "Tasmania," and all
the words after " Australia " in the third and
fourth lines, and adding the words "and
Fiji." The alterations are made in red ink.
Letter- card.

\\A. red on drab (pink inside), with altered
inscription.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

253

New Zealand. — The Monthly Journal
says it is assured by a correspondent, upon
whose judgment it can rely, that he has
seen an undoubted specimen of the 3d.,
first type, upon pelure, " a variety, the
existence of which," says Major Evans,
"has never before been satisfactorily
proved." It would be still more satis-
factory if the stamp were submitted to
the Expert Committee of the London
Society before it is fully admitted to our
catalogues.

Adhesive s.
3d. lilac on pelure.

Portugal. — There is to be still another
set of commemoratives to make glad the
Editor of the Boston Stamp Book and other
critics of the work of the S.S.S.S. in
putting down rubbish. It is to be issued
on the occasion of the ' ' National Celebra-
tion in 1897 of the Fourth Centenary of
the departure of Vasco di Gama for the
Discovery of India "

Queensland. — In chronicling the
recently issued 2^d. value (p. 222), we
omitted to state that the background has
been removed around the head.

Roumanian Levant. — The Berliner
BriefmarJcen-Zeitung says that in addition
to the surcharged stamps, chronicled in
our July number (p. 189), some 80 stamps
were used in Constantinople without a
special surcharge.

Servia. — The publishers of the
Monthly Journal have found in their stock
a pair of the 1866 40c, ultramarine on
pelure, perf . 9^ all round, and imperforate
between the two stamps.

Seychelles. — We are indebted to
Messrs. Whitfield King & Co., for a copy
of the following Government notice :—

Government Notice, No. 65 of 1893.

It is hereby notified for Public information
that in virtue of Art. 1 of Ord. 5 of 1890, His
Honour The Administrator, in Executive
Council, has been pleased to alter the present
rates of postage from Seychelles to the
countries of the 1'ostal Union —

FOR LETTERS.

Rs. c.

Not exceeding 15 grammes o 18

Exceeding 15 grammes, but not exceeding 30

grammes o 36

with 1 8c. for each additional 15 grammes
or fraction of 15 grammes.

FOR POST CARDS.

To countries of the Postal Union (single cards) o 08
)> >) >> (reply cards) o 16

For Commercial Papers, .Newspapers, Books,
Printed Papers, Patterns, &c.

Rs. c.

For 50 grammes o 04

With a proviso of a minimum for a packet of

commercial papers of o 18

And for Patterns or Samples o 08

The new rate will come into operation on and
from the 1st August, 1896.

The following values, now existing, will
be abolished from that date : —

13c, 15c, 45c, 45c, 48c , and 9b*c.

Pending the arrival of new stamps 18c and
36c overprints will be supplied ; and 1 8c
overprint envelopes.

(By order) Leo Gemmell,

Government Clerk.

Government Office, Seychelles,
13th July, 1896.

Shanghai.— We are indebted to Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co. for copies of some
new provisionals : — " Four cents " in sans
serif letters on 15c. yellow, and " six
cents," same style, on 20 cents, mauve.

Adhesives.

4C on 15c, yellow, black sur.
6c. on 20c. , mauve, black sur.

Sierra Leone— Messrs. Cameron &
Co. have had an entire pane (60 stamps)
of the ljd., wmk. crown and C.A., with
the "half penny" surcharge inverted.
The error " half pfnny " exists on one
specimen only.

Adhesive.
$d. on iid., lilac ; surcharge inverted.

South Australia.— Mr. G. Blockey
informs the Loudon Bhilatelist that he
has heard from an official source that the
3d., olive green, perf. 10, will not be re-
printed after the present supply is ex-
hausted, and also that the Is. plate which
has been in constant use since 1856, is
now very much worn, and will probably
be replaced shortly by a fresh design.

Tasmania.— A correspondent of the
Australian Philatelist has been informed
that this Colony intends issuing new id.,
2d., and 6d. stamps in place of those now
in issue, but the Editor inclines to the
belief that his correspondent is in error
as to the probability of a new 6d. stamp,
and thinks it will more likely be a 4d. , as
that value was not included in the 1892

Trinidad. — Messrs. Whitfield King
and Co. send us a full series of a striking
new design which we illustrate. Up to

254

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

and including the Is. the stamps are all
of the small design.

The os. and other higher values are of
the larger design. Wmk. crown and
C.A. ; Perf. 14.

Tjd. lilac, value in green.

id. lilac, value in carmine.

2W. lilac, value in blue.

4cl. lilac, value in yellow.

5d. lilac, value in violet.

6d. lilac, value in black.

id green, value in red.

5s.. green, value label in red.
10s. green, value label in blue.
.£1 green, value label in carmine.

United States. — The American Jour-
nal of Philately has secured an entirely
new local stamp, used on a letter dated
Cincinnati, October 19th, 1848, and ad-
dressed to Batavia, Ohio. The inscription
is "H. Frazer's City Express Post," and
this Post may have been the successor to
Frazer & Co.'s City Despatch Post. The
stamp is printed in black from a wood
engraving on salmon paper.

Adhesive.

H. Frazer's City Express Post.
2C black on salmon, imperf.

United States. —The Metropolitan

Philatelist chronicles the 1 cent, water-
marked, imperforated.

Adhesives.

1 cent., blue, imperf.

Zanzibar.— Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. write us that they have received a
letter from Zanzibar franked with the
2 anna, blue, surcharged on India, and
over-printed "2^" in red, in the same
type as the 2\ on \\.

Our publishers have shewn us the |a.,
la., and 2^a. of the new design stamps
of British East Africa, surcharged Zan-
zibar. The %&. and la. are surcharged in
black and the 2Ja. in red. The type of
the surcharge is the same as on previously
surcharged stamps for this Protectorate.

Adhesives.

25a, on 2a., blue (India)
Ja., yellow, sur., in black on B.E.A.
ia., rose, sur., in black on B.E.A.
2^a., blue, sur., in red on B.E.A.

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No. 1 , price one shilling (postage extra).

The September packet contains four
varieties, all unused, viz. : — Japanese war
stamps, 2c. and oc. (two varieties of each).

No. 2, price five shillings (postage extra).

The September packet contains thirteen
varieties, all unused : — Chamba, ^a. ;
Cyprus, 1 piastre ; Holland, 50c, green
and brown ; Mocambique Company, 1 892
issue, complete set of 10.

These packets are on sale until October 31st (unless
the supply is previously exhausted) and are supplied
only to Subscribers to the Philatelic Record and
Stamp News. Similar packets will be on sale every
month, and may be subscribed for in advance for the
year (January to December inclusive), at the following
rates-: — No. 1 packet (sent by book post with the paper},
12s. post-free (if by letter post the postage is is. extra
Inland ; 2s. 6d. Abroad). No. 2 packet (by letter post),
Inland 61s., Abroad 62s. 6d., post-free.

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum) is extra.
— Buhl & Co, Limited, 11, Qneen Victoria Street, E.C.

The, earliest information as to New Issues will be much appreciated by us, and will be duly credited

to the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our foreign correspondents can

materially help us in this direction. When possible, a specimen

should accompany the information, and be addressed to

the Editor Mr. Edward J. Nankivell,

28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

255

philately in the JOTaS5«

Nevis Varieties.

Mr. Charles J. Phillips, in the Monthly
Journal (the August number of which, by
the way, is a record number from a
philatelic point of view), announces his
discovery of two prominent varieties
amongst the stamps of Nevis, hitherto
unchronicled. He writes : —

THE ONE PENNY, VERMILION.

Here I have to draw attention to a palpable
retouch of No. 1 on the plate of the lithographic
transfers of lb79. This retouch is only found
on stamps printed from very worn stones, and
consists of a line drawn along the top outline
of the hill, with three horizontal lines lower
down, each one crossed with five or six vertical
lines, and also of a few slight traces of diagonal
lines to the left of these lines. This variety is
only found on stamps of the latest printing
Irom a very worn stone, and so far I have only
met with it in the stamps perforated 15.

The Id. vermilion, perf. 11 J, is usually con-
sidered a later printing than that perf. 15, but
from a close study of a number of sheets of
each perforation, I have come to the conclusion
that the order should be— first, the stamps perf.
15, clear, sharp impressions ; second, the stamps
perf. 11£, with the stamps showing some
traces of wear ; and third, and lastly, a re-issue
of the Id., perf. 15, with No. 1 on the sheet
retouched, as shown in the illustrations.

ONE SHILLING, GREEN.

Here I find a variety that is very curious.
A reference to the plate of illustrations will
clearly show two short, crossed lines on the top
of the hill, under the e and v of Nevis.

This cross I do not know in the Is. stamps
of 1861, perf. 13, nor on the Is. stamps of 1867,
on the blue-green; but it is first found in the
rare yellow-green engraved stamps of this latter
year, and is No. 9 on the sheet.

In 1879 lithographic transfers were made
from the original plates, and these stamps are
found in two very distinct shades, namely,
green and pale yellow-green, both about equally
scarce. Now comes the interesting point,
which is, that in several uncut sheets of each
shade that I possess, all the sheets of the pale
yellow-green stamps show the variety No. 9,
with the cross on hill ; and all the sheets of
the other shade— the deeper green— do not
show any traces of such a cross.

This cross cannot in any way be termed a
retouch, but is more of the nature of an acci-
dental blow from some tool ; but its existence
on some sheets, and not on others, may be
interesting as tending to prove two transfers
from the engraved plate, especially as on the
sheets of the darker green stamps I notice

that, in stamp No. 9, the outline of the hill, on
the right, is not as sharp and distinct as in
the other stamps, thus tending to show that
this accidental flaw had been removed before a
second transfer was made.

Thus I think we may assume the order of
these stamps to be,

(1) Engraved, perf. 15, blue-green, no cross.

(2) Engraved, perf. 15, yellow-green, with
cross.

(3) Lithographic transfer, perf. 15, pale
yell' >w- green, with cross.

(4) Second litho. transfer, perf. 15, darker
green, -with cross removed.

Two splendid full-page plates, showing

four complete sheets, and five single

! stamps considerably enlarged, are given

, with the number to illustrate the varieties

; described.

Canada: Perforation of Pence Issues.

Major Evans, in the course of some notes
at the end of Mr. Donald King's paper
1 on the Stamps of Canada, in the Monthly
I Journal, writes as follows, on the question
! as to the perforation of the pence issues :
Mr. King says, " It is an open question
whether these stamps " (the pence series) " were
delivered to the Canadian Post Office Depart-
ment in a perforated condition or not." Here
we are inclined to differ with him. We are of
opinion that there can be no question what-
ever that the ordinary 12 gauge perforation, as
applied first to the later printings of the pence
issue, and afterwards to the similar stamps with
values in cents, was done by Messrs. Rawdon,
Wright, Hatch. andEdson, and their successors
the American Bank-note Company. The guage
appears to be the same throughout, so that if
the earlier stamps were perforated in Canada,
the later ones would have been so likewise, and
some evidence of this should be forthcoming.
On the other hand, if we had the details of the
sums paid to the manufacturers for the pence
si amps, it is probable that we should find a
charge made for perforating the later supplies.
And further, if the Canadian Government had
possessed a perforating machine in the latter
part of 1857, it is surely extremely improbable
that nearly 60,000 7£d. stamps, and more than
84,000 10d., would have been issued between
October 1, 1857, and June 30, 1859, without
being perforated.

Current South Australians.

Mr. G. Blockey contributes to the
London Philatelist the following enumera-
tion of the series of South Australian
stamps at present ill use. He writes : —

256

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

There seems to be a great deal of uncertainty
among European collectors and cataloguers con-
cerning_ what stamps are being used in South
Australia at the present time, and there are two
or three stamps generally catalogued which we
out here are in total ignorance of. For instance,
Stanley Gibbons have the following in their
list :

187 3d., olive-green ; perf. 15.

190 is., brown; perf. 15.

566 O.S., 3d., olive-green; perf. 10.

Also the following have been chronicled in
error :

O.S., 2^d. on 4d.
O.S., 3d., green ;

; perf. 15
perf. 15.

I thought perhaps if a full list of present
issues was published it might clear up one or
two points of uncertainty.

DATE OF

ISSUE.

PERF. FORMER ISSUE.

Jan. 1893

£d., red-brown

15 ditto; perf 10 X 10

X IO X IlJ.

July 1895

id., green

13 ditto ; perf. 15.

,. 1895

2d., orange

13 ditto; ,, 15.

„ ]895

2^d., blue-lilac

13 ditto ; ,, 15.

,, 1892

3d., olive-gre^n

to sage-green ; 10

Jan. 1896

4d , bright violet

13 dull violet 15.

1895

5d., brown-purple

13 ditto ; but deeper
shade ; perf. 15.

Mar. 1896

6d., bright blue

13 ditto ; perf. 15.

1892

gd., lilac-rose

u£ ditto ; but deeper
shade ; perf. n£

June 1895

is. light sepia

it J brown ; perf. 11 \
and it£ x 12 \

1876-96

2S., crimson

\\\ ditto; perf. 10 and
n£ aud 12^

1894-95

2s. 6d , lilac

5s., rose

10s., green

15s., yellow-brown

^1, blue

£2, red-brown

50s., venetian-red

£3, sage-green

£4, lemon

n£ ditto ; perf. 10.

£5, olive-brown

grey ,,

^10, bronze

^15, silver

'»'• ','

,£20, mauve

>> >> ..

The £10, £15, £20 postage and revenue stamps
are not kept in stock at the Post-office, but are
obtained from the printer as ordered.

Service stamps surcharged O.S. (in thin type).

DATE OF
ISSUE.

May 1896 £d., red-brown

Jan. 1896 id., green
2d., orange
1892-93 2^d on 4<i., red

and green
1894 4d., dull violet
1891 sd., on 6d. carmine
and b-iown 10

1893 6d., bright blue 15

1894 is., brown ti}
Mayj.896 2s., crimson 10 x

'. FORMER ISSUE

same perf. 10 x 10 x

10 x n£.
same ; perf. 15.

. „ but Block O.S.
violet ; perf. 10

none,
same ; perf 10.

,,but Block O.S.
11 J same ; but Block
O.S.

Blued Paper.

We take the following interesting con-
tribution to the old question of blued
stamps from an editorial in the Monthly
Circular.

Our readers all probably know that the ad-
hesive revenue stamps in England were in
1855 printed on paper, in the composition of

which prussiate of potash had been introduced,
with the object of rendering it impossible to
remove an obliteration made by writing ink,
without its being readily detected. The sul-
phate of iron in the ink acted on the prussiate
of potash, for at that time sulphate of iron
entered into the composition of all writing ink,
wrhich is no longer the case in the chemical inks
of the present day. Similar paper was made
use of for the first postage stamps manufactured
by De La Rue & Co., the fourpence being
issued in 1855 on similar'paper, and the impres-
sion of the sixpence, registered 29th March,
1850, and that of the one shilling, registered
27th June, 1856, were on similar paper. The
use of it was, however, abandoned for all the
three stamps in 1856, the sixpence and one
shilling not having been issued printed on that
paper. When investigating the matter some
years since, we were told by the highest au-
thority, the chemist in the firm of T. De La Rue
& Co., that the action of the prussiate of potash
was " very capricious," which we understood
to mean that some times it showed its presence
more distinctly than at other times. This is
consistent with facts that cannot be ignored.
There are certain specimens of the fourpence,
small garter, which are almost white ; there are
specimens of the sixpence which are blued more
or less uniformly, and in the one shilling we
find some specimens with the paper of a bluish
tone. But in the case of the specimens, more
especially of the sixpence, the blue tinge appears
to us to have been developed by atmospheric
influences. We were also told that orders were
given in 1856 to discontinue the prussiate of
potash in the paper for the postage stamps,
though it was continued for that of the revenue
stamps to a much later date, showing itself
more or less till within the last 1en years. The
revenue adhesive stamps of threepence and
sixpence on anchor paper and those of one
penny are notable instances of the capricious
nature of the ingredient, and though many of
them lire on paper apparently white, we can
scarcely suppose that the ingredients was not
in the paper, but that it was there in a latent
state. That in the case of the postage stamp
paper it was discontinued entirely after 1856
we consider to be past any doubt, but what we
do think is that the transition from the safety
blue paper on which the fourpence was first
printed to the apparently white of the latter
part of the issue on medium sized garter paper,
was not so sudden and entire as a change from
black to white. At wrhat stage of the manu-
facture of the paper the prussiate of potash was
introduced into the pulp we are not aware, but,
probably, when the order came to discontinue
its use there was pulp already in hand charged
with it, and this was softened down and not
discarded. The printers, however, treated it as
white, which it was in comparison of the blue
safety.

Nova Scotia Remainders.

According to the Metropolitan Phila-
telist, a very interesting discovery has
been made, consisting of the last issued
stamps of Nova Scotia, aggregating some

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

257

200,000 sets minus the oc. value. Mr.
J. W. Scott adds :—

We presume this is the lot from which we
used to buy a few hundred sets at a time some
fifteen years ago.

The London Philatelist informs us that
these stamps have been sold to a syndi-
cate in Canada at face value.

Columbian Republic.

The Metropolitan Philatelist, which is
indebted to Mr. W. T. Curtis for the
sight of entire unused sheets of the first
two issues of the stamps of this country,
supplies the following valuable informa-
tion as to the make-up of the sheets : —

FIRST TYPE OF 1859.

10ci orange, sheet of fifty stamps, 5 rows of

10 stamps.

The second stamp on the second row is in-
verted.

SECOND TYPE OF 1859.

5c. violet blue, sheet of fifty-five in 5 rows
of 11 stamps.

On first row the ninth and eleventh stamps
are inverted.

On second row the second stamp is inverted.

On fourth row the fifth stamp has the value
50c. above and below. In the sheet before us
this stamp has been cancelled by punching
out the shield with a large circular punch.

On the fifth row the sixth stamp is inverted.

20c. blue, sheet of fifty-five in 5 rows of

11 stamps.

On first row the second stamp is inverted.

On third row the third stamp has had the
value altered ; the lines of background at sides
of value are very faint and the numerals
large, ill-shaped, and very heavily printed.

On fourth row the second stamp is of the
value 5c, both upper and lower numerals
being perfectly formed.

Japanese Stamps.

The editor of the Philatelic World (Cal-
cutta) has seen a beautiful book published
by the Japanese Postal Department, con-
taining descriptions and examples of every
stamp ever issued by the Government.

With the exception of a very few of the
earlier issues, which are reprints, the rest are
all genuine stamps unused, and of themselves
form an almost complete and very handsome
collection.

The book is called " A Short History of the
Postage Stamps of Japan," is bound in the
most bewitching golden silk brocade, with
purple bows, and is printed on the best of
paper. The actual bare historical facts are
recorded in English as well as Japanese, but
(alas!) all the elaborated statistical portion of
the work is in Japanese only.

Will no one send us a translation,
especially of the statistical portion of
this book ?

Demonetised U.S. Stamps.

A correspondent of the Chicago Times
Herald has been investigating the cir-
cumstances under which stamps issued
prior to the great Civil War were de-
monetised, and he gives the following
interesting history of the matter : —

I sought information in the files of the
National Intelligencer, preserved in the library
of congress, which was the organ of the Depart-
ment in 1861. I found, in the issue of June
13, 1801, the following "extract from the de-
partmental files," published for the information
of the public : —

" There are now no postmasters of the United
States in the seceded States, authorized to sell
stamp or collect postage, since the 1st of June,
for this government. Postmasters, therefore,
must treat all matter since the 1st of June
coming from the seceded States, and mailed
within these States, as unpaid matter to beheld
for postage. All such matter is ordered to be
sent to the dead letter office at Washington to
be disposed of according to law."

In the issue of the following day, June 14,
1881, the following appeared as an editorial
paragraph : —

" In consequence of the retention and im-
proper use of postage stamps by delinquent
postmasters in some of the seceded States, the
postmaster-general has ordered a new stamped
envelope, which will be ready for use in a few
days, and that by the 1st of August there will
be a new stamp with devices altogether different
from the present."

In August, 1861. the department sent circular
letters to postmasters throughout the country,
forwarding stamps and stamped envelopes of
the new designs, and giving instructions as
follows : —

"You will immediately give public notice
through the newspapers and otherwise that you
are prepared to exchange stamps of the new
style for an equivalent amount of the old issue
during a period of six days from the date of
notice, and that the latter will not thereafter be
received in payment of postage on letters sent
from your office."

" It being impossible to supply all offices
with the new stamps at once, you will deliver
letters received from Kentucky, Missouri,
Illinois, Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania,
prepaid by stamps of the old issue until Oct. 1 ;
those from other loyal States east of the Rocky
Mountains, until the 15th of October, and those
from the States of California and Oregon, and
the territories of New Mexico, Utah and Wash-
ington until the 1st of December, 1861."

All stamps issued before the war are known
to and designated by the department as the
series of 1847 and 1851. Of the series of 1847
there were but two denominations, 5 and 10
cents. There were eight denominations of the
regular postage stamps of the series of 1851,
viz. : 1 cent, 3 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 12 cents,
24 cents, 30 cents, and 90 cents, and two styles
of 1 cent carrier stamp.

25§

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

In his report to congress, submitted Dec. 2,
1861, Mr. Elair referred to the stamp episode
as follows : —

" In order to prevent the fraudulent use of
the large quantity of stamps remaining unac-
counted for in the hands of postmasters in the
disloyal States, it was deemed necessary to
change the design and the colour of those manu-
factured under the new contract, and also to
modify the stamp upon the stamped envelope,
and to substitute, as soon as possible, the new
for the old issue. It was the design of the
department that this distribution of the new
stamps and envelopes should commence on the
1st cf August, but from unavoidable delay
that of the latter did not take place until the
15th of that month. * * * All post offices
in the loyal States, with the exception of certain
offices in Kentucky and Missouri, have been
supplied therewith. Those of the old issue
have been exchanged and superceded."

The action of Mr. Blair was neither specifi-
cally approved nor condemned by congress, and.
on the theory that " silence gives consent," the
nonaction of the legislative branch of the
government was assumed to be a confirmation
of the action of the executive branch.

U.S. Triangle Varieties.

Mr. J. M. Bartels, the well-informed
Washington correspondent of the Daily
Starnp Item, says : —

It is not contemplated by the Bureau autho-
rities to issue the entire current set with triangle
III. to correspond with the 2c. denomination.
They also deny that the recently chronicled 3c.
value has been thus issued. No new plates of this
denomination have been made for more than a
year, and it is impossible that the old ones
could have been altered to this extent. A
proof of the 3c. triangle III. is, however,
known to exist.

Postal System of the " Cuban Republic."

The Philadelphia Inquirer gives us a
glimpse into the attempts of the so-called
Cuban Bepublic authorities to establish
postal communication in the revolted
region .

After post-offices had been secretly but
regularly established throughout the several
Cuban provinces, and officers appointed through
whose hands all communications were to pass,
the following novel scheme was hit upon to
insure the safe and prompt transmission of a
letter to any one in the ranks of the insurgent
armies, no matter in what part of the island
he might happen to be at the time the missive
should be received in Cuba.

To each stamp was attached the portrait of
some one of the four famous Cuban leaders,
Marti, Gomez, Maceo, and Garcia, it being
intended that the portrait selected should indi-
cate the destination of the letter on which it
was placed. For instance, to reach a friend
fighting under General Maceo in the province
of Pinar del Bio, a letter must be properly

addressed to the headquarters in this city. The
manager at the headquarters simply stamps the
missive with an adhesive stamp to which is
attached a picture of General Maceo. The
official into whose hand the letter comes on its
first arrival in Cuba knows by a glance at the
stamp just to what part of the island the letter
is to go.

U.S. Plate Numbers.

Plate number collecting in the United
States is certainly doing philately general
service in the interesting information
which it brings to light. "We quote the
following from Mr. Bartels, in the Daily
Stamp Item : —

The Bureau always runs four plates at once
when printing the lower denominations of
postage stamps, and an equal number of im-
pressions is made from each plate used. No.
89 was put into service on November 26, 1894,
and used eleven days until December 7th, when
it was found defective and immediately dis-
carded. During this period 39,500 sheets of
400 stamps were printed from the set of plates,
of which 9,875 were No. 89. Let us assume
that 875 of the sheets were found imperfect
and destroyed (which would be about the
proper proportion) and we would have 9,000
full sheets left. Each one having eight plate
numbers would make 72,000 89' s which were
distributed among the various post-offices. No
one knew of its scarcity at the time, and very
few indeed seem to have been saved, as orders
at $50.00 each for plate numbers cannot be
filled by dealers.

Another number which is considered scarce
is 116. This plate was put into use on
December 28, 1894, and continued until March
12, 1895. During this time 75,383 impressions
were made from it, which would be about three
quarters of the average number each plate is
supposed to print before it becomes worn and
unfit for use.

U.S. Bureau Perforation.

According to Mr. Bartels, in the Daily
Stamp Item, the Bureau at the start made
as bad a hand of perforating its stamps
as it did in printing them. He writes : —

It is well known that evenly centered un-
watermarked dollar values are exceedingly
scarce and command quite a premium, and it
would seem that all stamps of these values
printed were sent out by the department, no
matter how poor they were. But the fact is,
the Bureau at first turned out many sheets of
stamps which were centered worse than any
specimens we have ever seen. It would often
happen that towards the top of the sheet the
perforations would go through the middle of
the stamps, which, of course, rendered them
worthless. Frequently, only the lower portion
would be considered sufficiently good to be
issued, sometimes only two or three rows, or
even none at all. These were always detached
and used for filling requisitions of postmasters.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

259

The next Postal Union Congress.

The Daily Stamp Item quotes from the
Diplomatic and Consular Review the fol-
lowing interesting information concerning
the next Postal Union Congress, which is
to meet at "Washington the first Wednes-
day of May next. Some of the methods
and subjects are of great interest. All
the proceedings are to be in French, that
being the official language of the Postal
Union. There are now fifty-three coun-
tries embraced in the Union, Cape of
Good Hope being the last to join. China,
Orange Free State and Corea, are the only
important organized governments yet
outside, and these are expected soon to
take steps towards joining. The place of
meeting is undecided, but is hoped to
secure the senate chamber in the Capitol.

The much agitated proposition to adopt a
universal postage stamp will be brought up for
action, and the outlook now is very favourable.

Except as specially provided by each country
the universal stamp would not be good for do-
mestic postage, but each country party to the
Union compact would be required to recognize
it when addressed to or from any other country.

When this subject was discussed at Vienna
instructions were given the Bureau at Berne
" to inquire into the subject and make its report."
The great difficulty encountered is the varying
currencies, which opponents of the scheme claim
would open the door to speculation.

The international postal rates are fixed also in
French currency — 25 centimes for 15 grammes
in weight. Thus, the nearest equivalent in
each country is made the rate, the metric weight
being universally used.

Spain, 1852.

The Filatelia continues its interesting
article on the stamps of Spain. We will
just give the numbers of the different
values issued and sold, as these seem to
us to have great interest.

Printed. Sold. Remainders.

6 quartos, rose ... 13,029820 11,252,886 1,776,934

12 ,, lilac... 227,630 145.014 82,616

2 reales, red 22,100 3.394 18,706

5 „ green ... 104.210 79484 24,726

6 >• b'ue 55.59° 21,665 33-925

It is a great pity that the article, which
deals otherwise very comprehensively
with the matter, does not say a word
about the different papers these stamps
are printed on.

Russia: Variety of the 20 Kop. 1875.

The Brief markenboerse points a variety
out in the 20 kop. stamp of the 1875 issue.
the seventh letter in the value at the
bottom is generally a T, but in a few
copies the vertical stroke crosses the

horizontal stroke, thus forming a +.
This variety is very rare, and this fact
seems to indicate that only one exists on
the sheet.

Alsace-Lorraine.

So far we have only seen two numbers
of a new philatelic paper dealing exclu-
sively with the stamps of Alsace-Lorraine
and their obliterations. The contents are
interesting and instructive, though, of
course they will only appeal to a small
number of specialists.

A few of the prices demanded for dif-
ferent obliterations will no doubt be of
interest : —
Abreschwiller ... (French obliteration) 20/-
Albersweiler ... (German „ ) 5/-

Ars. s. Moselle... (French „ ) 8/-

Ars. auder Mosel (German „ ) -/6

Avricourt (French „ ) 10/-

„ (German „ ) 1/6

Beufeld (French „ ) 15/-

(German „ ) -/3

Bischwiller (French „ ) 15/-

Bischweiler (German „ ) -/l

Brumath (French „ ) 20/-

Brumat (German „ ) -/6

The Cheapest Rate of Postage.

Die Post points out that Brazil enjoys
at present, in consequence of the drop in
the value of the milreis, the cheapest
letter rate in the world. When Brazil
entered the Union Postale Universelle
the inland rate for ordinary letters was
fixed at 100 reis, and for foreign letters
at 200 reis. With the milreis at about
9d., a foreign letter costs a little under
2d., and an inland letter a little under a
penny, and considering the tremendous
extent of the country, it is no wonder
that the post-office shows a big deficit.

Turkey.

Der Philatelist (Dresden) prints a fur-
ther portion of Neulinger's paper on
Turkey. We may mention the follow-
ing uncatalogued varieties as being of
interest : —

Issue 1876. — This issue being bi-coloured,
the stamps were printed in two operations, and
as usual, some sheets were reversed by mis-
take, when they were put in the press for the
design. This, of course, gives us the whole
issue of six values (10, 20, and 50 paras, 2, 5,
and 25 piastres) with Turkish inscriptions re-
versed, imperforated and perforated 13£ and
11$.

Furthermore, all of them exist tete-
beche.

Italian Levant.

The Berliner Briefmarhen Zeitung has a
short but very instructive article on the

26o

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Italian Levant stamps and their oblitera-
tions. The differences in the designs of
the stamps for the 1874 and 1877 issues
are very clear, those of the 1881 issue
however, less clear. Forgers generally
took the Italian stamps and surcharged
them '' Estero." They even supplied the
30 centesimi value, which officially never
existed. The obliterations can be divided
into three classes — genuine, forged, and
done by favour after the stamps were out
of issue.

The genuine obliterating dies are very simi-
lar to the English ones containing various
numbers within thick bars, the three centre
bars broken to admit the number of the post-
office. Thus 234 is Alexandria, 235 Tunis,
3,051 Tripolis, 3,336 Goletta, 3,^40 Assab, & C.
At the post-office in Rome very large numbers
of practically every value have been obliterated
just to oblige collectors with 3,364 and 3,862,
which two numbers belong to Susa and Mas-
sowah. Forged obliterations generally have
the number 234.

U.S. Plates.

Mr. J. M. Bartels, in the Weekly Stamp
News, writes : —

Plate number collectors are informed that
the issuing of a new plate number does not
always mean that the former number or numbers
of plates are put asid^ or withdrawn from use.
From what I can learn, each perfect plate is
supposed to print about 100,000 sheets of stamps
before its surface becomes too much worn. For
this reason I do not believe it likely that any
new plate numbers will be made for a long time
for the higher denominations, commencing at
the 50c. value and upwards. I also learn that
tbe only reason for issuing a second or duplicate
plate is the fact that the Bureau officials wish to
have another plate handy in case of accident.

Sydney Views.

Mr. Bassett Hull recently lectured
before the Sydney Philatelic Club on
Sydney Views, and from a report in the
Australian Philatelist we learn that —

He referred to the vast and successful labours
of the English philatelists who had succeeded in
reconstructing the plates from separate copies,
and pointed out the difficulties under which
these early pioneers had laboured. He ven-
tured to assert that there were still a few points
left for elucidation, and showed enlarged
illustrations in support of his theory that, in
addition to the accepted retouches or " states " of
the 2d. plates, there were several intermediate
and partial retouches.

A block of five 2d. plate I, retouched, two from
the top row and three from the bottom, were
shown. In these the deepening of the lines
above " Twopence " and below " Postage " were
very distinct, but the upper compartment line
single. Another stamp from the top row, also
retouched, was then shown, the upper compart-
ment lines being double.

South Australian Designs.

The authorities of South Australia do
not seem to have been very successful
with their offer of prizes of £5 each for
the best design for a half -penny postage
stamp, for a postcard, and for a
newspaper wrapper; in each case local
characteristics to be shown. The
Australian Philatelist informs us that —

In all fifty-four designs were forwarded to the
Postmaster-General. Several possess consider-
able merit, but unfortunately none was
considered to be exactly suitable without some
modification.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

261

philatelic Qossip.

Imperial Penny Postage.

Some day we shall have Imperial Penny-
Postage. Yes, some day, when our mas-
ters at St. Martin's-le- Grand wake up
to the fact that they are going a little
too far with the patience of the public.
Mr. H. O.Arnold-Forster,M.P., speaking
at the recent Annual Conference of the
Institute of Journalists, said : —

At present the only obstacle which stands
between this countiy and an Imperial Penny
Postage from this country to the Colonies is a
sum of some £50,000 or £60,000, in reality it
is the ordinary vis inertice of the Post Office.
That the thing can be done, onght to be done,
and will be done, is as certain as that you are
in this room at the present moment. The only
question is, how much longer it shall be put
off ? The other day I was a passenger on a
steamer which brought a thousand tons of cargo
from Calcutta at 10s. per ton. I do not want
to suggest that, bad as freights are, this repre-
sents the normal rate of Indian, freights, but I
would have you observe the fact, with reference
to the question of the cost of Imperial Penny
Postage, that there are over 35,000 ounce letters
in a ton, and that 35,000 pence make £145,
which leaves a fair margin on the 10s. of freight.
Undoubtedly the objection is not one of cost.
There are certain departmental objections which
would not live for a quarter of an hour if once
any single person in authority made up his mind
that the thing should be done, and I honestly
believe at this moment the only serious, real
obstacle to the reform is the fact that the Post
Office authorities have already so many times
refused to make it. A week s good crusade,
carried on with the ability which is now
at the service of our great papers, would knock
the nonsense out of the Post Office, and give us
an Imperial Penny Postage with the most abso-
lute certainty.

Congos for Collectors.

We get a side light now and then into
the extent to which new, or poverty-
stricken States, cater for the Stamp Col-
lector for revenue purposes. Mr. J. W.
Scott, in the Metropolitan Philatelist, gives
a peep into Congo State methods of
picking the pockets of collectors. He
writes : —

The Cougo stamps, although nominally made
for use, are really beautiful pictures made to
sell to boys, and of course had to be beautiful
to secure a large sale. The cost of production
must have been very large, as the officials
refused to sell to the J. W. Scott Co., Limited.
20,000 of the lowest values unless they purchased
a large quantity of complete sets, which would
indicate that the stamps must have cost some-

where near a cent each, and conclusively prov-
ing that they could not afford to perform any
postal service prepaid by such expensive labels.

Quotation.

A practice is prevalent amongst phila-
telic periodicals of giving the initials of
the title of a journal quoted instead of
the full name. The journal thus quoted
is obviously robbed of the advertisement
value of the quotation. We confess to
having fallen into the practice ourselves
at times as a space-saving device ; but as
a journal is entitled to the full advertise-
ment value of its quotation, we propose
to our contemporaries that titles, and not
initials only, shall be given; not neces-
sarily the full title, but sufficient to
identify the journal referred to.

Manchester Philatelic Society.

The Syllabus of the Manchester Society
is the first to reach us of work planned
out for the coming winter season. It is
a model of what a syllabus should be,
and is far ahead of the hand to mouth
arrangement from week to week. We
give the syllabus in full : —

SYLLABUS— SESSION 1896-7.

Sep. 25 Opening Meeting, 7 p.m.

Lantern Exhibition .
Part I , Secret Marks : the stamps of Hamburg.
Part II., Dangerous Forgeries.
Oct. 2 Exhibition of Stamps acquired during the
recess,
o *' Philatelic Exhibition." A Paper.

W. D. Beck ton.
,, 16 Discussion on the proposed London Exhibition.
,, 23 Austria : Lombardy-Venetia.

G. B. Duerst.
,, 30 Discussion and Revision of above.
Nov. 6 Exhibition of Countries.

\\ 20 Greece. W. D. BECKTON.

,, 27 ,, Discussion thereon to settle Reference
List.

Dec. 4 „ Part II. W. D. Beckton.

,,11 „ Discussion.

,, t8 Annual Dinner, 7 p.m.
1897.

Jan. 8 Norway. A. H. Harrison.

,, 15 ,. Discussion thereon.

,, 22 „ Part II. A.H.Harrison.

,,29 ,1 Discussion.

Feb 5 Lantern Exhibition. J. H. Abbott.

,, 12

,, 19 Sweden. R. H. W. Whapham.

.,26 „ Discussion thereon.

Mar. 5 Russia, an article on D. Ostara.

,, 12 Exhibition of Countries.

,, 19 Hayti. J. H Abbott.

,, 26 ., Discussion thereon.

April 2 Two Sicilies. E. Petri.

„ 9 „ „ Discussion thereon.

,, 14 Finland. G. B. Duerst.

,,23 „ Discussion thereon.

;; 30 w. w. munn.

262

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Our Back Numbers.

Our publishers desire us to state that
their stock of back numbers of the current
volume is running very short, and that
they will have to raise the price of the
January number shortly. Glad to hear
it. Of that January number we printed
2500 copies ! We are now preparing
some specimen page circulars, which we
shall be glad to supply in quantities to
those of our readers who think the Record
is deserving of recommendation to their
philatelic friends. We want all the kindly
help we can get in extending our circu-
lation.

Replies to Queries.

Miss M. M. — We are very much amused
at your quotation of a report that ' ' a
special yellow stamp which was only cir-
culated for one year in Spain for the exclu-
sive use of the Senate (House of Peers)
was sold in London for 1500 pesetas, =
£60, the Duke of York and another
member of the London Society being the
only two persons who possessed a speci-
men of the same kind." If you refer to
our advertisement pages in our last
month's number you will there find that
our publishers, in their " Bargains and
Novelties " list, offered you the identical
stamp for sixpence !

Starrtf? ^rade J^otes.

By a Dealer.

Introductory.
I have been asked by Mr. Editor to
gather up month by month a few of the
crumbs of news that are knocking about
in " the trade." " No personalities — at
least none of the offensive caste," says
the autocrat, in his letter of instructions.
' ' Just take your stand in the market
place and report progress as if you were
doing an iron- trade report." Umph! Cold-
blooded sort of instructions those ; but I
suppose they must be obeyed. Anyway,
if they are not I am promised "the
sack."

The Nova Scotia Deal.

What a noise there is over this deal.
So far as I can learn the firm of Stanley
Gibbons got the exclusive distribution of
these ^ Government remainders for all
countries outside America. They have
been selling them in wholesale lots only,
and the lowest price at which they are
sold in the largest lot precludes their
being retailed at 10s. at a profit. Yet
one dealer asserts that he has been offered
thousands of sets at 2s. 6d. per set. I
understand that the Strand firm at once
offered this party 4s. per set for a thousand
sets, and a well-known collector empha-
sised his unbelief in the assertion by
offering £500 cash down for a supply ;
but in neither case, sad to say, is the
"2s. 6d. per set" supply forthcoming.
If the statement is true, which I very
much doubt, it can only be explained by
the fact that the syndicate which secured

the remainders has broken faith with the
Strand firm and will have to stand the
penalty, by no means a light one.

Philatelic Literature.

I wonder some one does not set up as a
dealer in Philatelic literature ; considering
the prices which some old philatelic
volumes realise, there should be room
for a profitable turnover. At the Auc-
tions bound volumes fetch extraordinary
prices. I have seen current books knocked
down at figures beyond their published
price, and old magazines bring fancy
prices. Part I. of the African Colonies
work of the London Philatelic Society,
which was published a few months since
at 10s. is now catalogued at 17s. 6d., by
Hollick, of Birmingham.

By the way, Messrs. Buhl & Co.,
Limited, will offer at their sale on the 7th
October, a most luxuriously bound full
set of the works of the Philatelic Society
of London, for which I anticipate a
regular scramble.

The Junior Catalogue.
Those who want a junior catalogue can
surely find it in the price lists issued
by one or two old-fashioned dealers, who
have never troubled to follow the later
developments of the Specialist school. I
don't expect they would like to be con-
sidered old fashioned, and I hesitate,
therefore, in naming their catalogues,
lest I should get into trouble. All the
same, that Boy's catalogue is bound to

STAMP TRADE NOTES.

263

come for we cannot afford to let our
American friends step in and scoop up
our Boy trade.

Cheap Collections.

Cheap collections are coming into
favour, for the very good reason that
many beginners like to have a foundation
of ordinary sorts to commence with, and
not a few Specialists have of late taken
to running a general collection alongside
their specialty, with a view to opening
out other countries later on. In my
humble opinion it is a wise plan for every
Specialist to run a general collection. It
may be done for common stamps at a
comparatively small cost, and ordinary
current stamps may be added without
any very heavy tax in the matter of
outlay. Then, when he wants to specialise
another country he will find that he has
a good foundation, and probably many
stamps which would be hard to get, if
not expensive to buy. Messrs. Buhl
& Co.'s "new departure" of making a
collection by easy stages, of packets of
1 25 stamps, each different to the previous
packet, is an idea worth developing even
beyond their advertised limit of a 2000
collection. Dealers might do worse than
sort up their medium stamps into packets
in this way. I could even venture to
suggest that the idea might be worked
in packets at all prices, so that all might
be accommodated, from the boy with his
shilling to the monied collector with his
sovereigns galore. With such a range of
cheap stamps in all countries as we now
have, there should be no difficulty in
making up large collections by os. stages.

Another Dealer Strand-ed.

Yet another dealer has joined the mul-
titude in the Strand. Mr. Hadlow has
been creeping Strandwards for some
years. He started many years ago as a
collector in Tottenham, then developed
into a full-blown dealer and migrated
to Holborn ! from thence he made his
way to Exeter Street, looking into the
Strand ; and now he has moved into the
great philatelic thoroughfare itself with
a fine range of rooms, and an excellent
stock of British Colonials, at 33], Strand,
W.C., just opposite Somerset House.

Definition of a Dealer.

I recently found myself in a warm
corner in Philatelic Avenue on the
question of how to define a dealer in
stamps. The Bazaar, I was informed,

defines a dealer as one who buys stamps
that he may sell them at a profit. There-
fore a collector who buys a collection
for the sake of some stamps which may
be added to his own collection and sells
the remainder is a dealer, which, of
course, is absurd ; for under such a defi-
nition all collectors would ba dealers.
My friend of Philatelic Avenue agreed,
and held that a dealer should be distin-
guished by a simple definition as a per-
son who gets his living by selling stamps.
I ventured to point out that this would
omit many who even advertised them-
selves as dealers. But my friend stuck
to his guns, and contended that that did
not matter ; his definition was, he stoutly
contended, the only way out of the
difficulty. As a compromise it may be,
but I fear it would not pass muster at
Effingham House. Perhaps the premier
Society will offer a gold medal at the
forthcoming Exhibition for the best and
most workable definition.

Ceylons and Australians.

Mr. Hadlow has a Specialist's Collection
of India, Ceylon, and Australia, which he
proposes to sell by auction on November
16th and 17th. I have had a look through
it. There are many grand copies of rare
stamps, both used and unused. It is
certainly rich enough to create a brisk
competition for "first pick" under the
hammer.

The Current Market.

It is rather early in the season for me
to say much as to what is selling best.
Of course, we shall all be curious to see
whether West Indians maintain their
prices of last season. I scarcely think
they will drop, for they are good stamps,
and will always be worth their money,
for many reasons. Most dealers are
replenishing their stocks of West Africans.
I heard the other day of one dealer, who,
finding himself short of West Africans,
cleaned out page after page from another
dealer's stock-books at full marked prices.

Personalities.

Mr. Whitfield King, who has been
overdoing it in the matter of hard work, '
has gone off to Davos Platz to recruit.
My best wishes go with him for a speedy
recovery to vigorous health. As the head
and front of the New Collector School
for the popularising of New Issues, he
can ill be spared, even for a brief holiday.

I also regret to hear that Mr. Brosnan
has been very ill.

«^no<7V5w>TC« j/^

264

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Suppression of SpeaizlatioQ Stam]?s'

>*$«•

Circular No. 6.

391, Strand, London, W.C.

The Society, in conjunction with the
Special Committee appointed by the
London Philatelic Society, having taken
into consideration the stamps mentioned
below, are of opinion that they are not
worth the attention of Philatelists, and
appeal to all Collectors and Dealers to
discountenance collecting or dealing in
the same.

25. Uruguay. — From the Monte Video
Times, of July 14th, and also from an
official circular received from the Direction
General of Posts and Telegraphs, we
learn that it was proposed to issue a set
of stamps to commemorate the inaugura-
tion of the statue of Don Joaquin Suarez.
The set consists of the following values : —

1 Centisimo (portrait of Suarez) black and
violet.

5 ,, (statue of Suarez) black and sky-

blue.

(the Suarez monument) black and
carmine.

This set was to be concurrent with the
regular issue, from the 18th July to the
25th August.

The following extract from the news-
paper above named expresses very per-

tinently what business people think of
such an issue : —

" After August 26th they will no longer be
valid for postal purposes, but may be changed
for similar values of the current emission until
September 30th. Tbis issue will not affect tbe
present emission, which remains valid and may
be used concurrently. This is all very well,
but instead of attending to these ' celebration '
emissions — which have been so grossly abused
by many countries of late years that they have
lost all value with genuine stamp collectors,
and are shunned by the more respectable dealers
— we think it would be far better if the Post
Office endeavoured to supply the present painful
deficiency of post cards, stamped envelopes and
wrappers, the want of which is a serious detri-
ment to commerce. As we said recently, it is a
monstrous thingthat a note or acknowledgment
of two or three lines cannot be sent abroad
except in a letter costing 10 cents, instead of on
a post card of 2 or 3 cents. It is some two
years now that we have been without post cards,
and the Post Office is seriously to blame, besides
being a loser, for not paying more attention to
the ordinary wants of the public."

26. Venezuela. — A commemoration
set has lately been issued, consisting of
the following values : — 5c, 10c, 25c. 50c,
and 1 bolivar, but we have at present no
further information concerning them.

Gordon Smith,

Sec. S.S.S.S.

Herbert E. Oldeield,

Hon. Secretary to Special Committee, London
Philatelic Society.
29th August, 1896.

J)[otioos.

Editorial Com mu nications.— Articles of {

special interest will be paid for. M.S. dealing with j
particular points in an exhaustive manner will be most
welcome. As we wish to arrange matter in advance,
we shall be glad to hear from Specialists who are open
to write up their special countries.

All communications on Editorial matters should be
addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J. Nankivell,

28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Letters enclosing valuable
should be registered.

Subscriptions.— The Philatelic Record and
Stamp News will be sent post free to any subscriber
at home or abroad, on receipt of 3s. Subscribers'
remittances should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs.
Buhl & Co., Limited, : x Queen Victoria Street,
London, England.

Our Advertisement Rates. -Price per Insertion, net.

Single.

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12 months.

Whole Page

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Small Advertisements— 5s. per inch, in double column, prepaid
Accounts for a series payable quarterly. Single insertion payable in advance.

Enquiries connected with the Advertisement pages should be addressed to Mr. E. J. Nankivell, 28, Bird-
hurst Rise, Croydon.

Advert sements must be received not later than the 15th of the month for publication in the next issue.

CHARLES JONES. PRINTER. LONDON

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News.

OCTOBER, 1896.

Qditorial J^otos.

'E hear that an important order has been issued from headquarters

to all colonial postmasters putting a stop, once and for all, to the

evil practice of postmarking stamps to order. Many postmasters

in our colonies have been far too obliging in this matter. Most

of them probably were not aware of the nature of the deceit to

which they were being made accessory. Others, probably, less

innocent, did a good trade in this form of deception. Postmarking to order

has been carried on in several colonies as quite a trade, the idea being to palm

off as used stamps " postmarked to order " copies that had never

&U^1 t done Postal duty. We have seen sheets from the native states of

order t^ie ^a^ay Peninsula, and other places thus postmarked. The

practice has also been rife in several of the West Indian Islands.

Now, by a wise order of the home authorities, there is to be an end to this

pettifogging practice on the part of our colonial postal officials. The order

comes none too soon for the credit of all concerned.

Another instruction included in the same order, we understand, prohibits the
sale of more than £ 5 worth of stamps of any value at a time to any stamp
dealer. This prohibition is a drastic one, and will no doubt cause much
inconvenience to dealers all over the world. At the same time it must not be
forgotten that colonial postmasters have been subjected to a great deal of
inconvenience by the manner in which their stocks have been denuded by
speculators to the disadvantage of the postal services. There is, we believe, a
saving clause that any demand for more than £5 worth of stamps must be
referred to the home authorities. Such a reference is not likely to be called
into operation, for by the time a reply would be received the coveted stamps
would be sold out.

Further progress has been made during the month towards

London getting matters into shape for the great Philatelic Exhibition of

Philatelic next year. Last month we published the full list of the General

Exhibition, Committee and the Executive chosen from that body. We are

1897. now enabled to give the particulars of the business-like manner

in which the Executive has divided the work amongst its

members. For the present it will be seen that the Executive has been split

up into three sub-committees, viz. : — Finance, General Purposes, and Adver-

266 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

tising and Publicity Committees. Thus the preliminaries are in a sound way
of being efficiently and thoroughly carried out. Later on, when the prelimi-
naries have been satisfactorily arranged and completed, and the eventful weeks
draw near, there will have to be a further apportionment of the work, not the
least important of which will be a Hanging Committee. So far, everything
has gone smoothly and most satisfactorily. The selection and appointment of
the Executive has given unalloyed satisfaction to all English Philatelists. It
is wisely made up of names that in themselves are an ample guarantee that the
Exhibition will be in the safe keeping of the most trusted and ablest of
English Philatelists. The names of Major Evans, Mr. Castle, Mr. E. D.
Bacon, and Mr. Ehrenbach are alone a host in themselves.

Our Colonial types of postage stamps seem to be passing
" . , through a stage of transition. A few years since it was thought
_ that one De la Rue type had come to stay for all time ; that,

in fact, it was as unalterable as the laws of the Medes and
Persians. But, lo and behold, we are suddenly face to face with sweeping
changes, the end of which no one can foresee. The old stern, set, type of the
Queen's head within an octagonal frame, with straight labels above and below
for name and value respectively, in one colour, first gave way to a modification
of printing the name and value in another colour, and now we have coming
into fashion a more fanciful type already in use for the Leeward Islands, also
in bi-colour. This type has just been adopted for the latest issue of Sierra
Leone. As a further evidence that Messrs. De la Rue are not hide-bound in
the matter of design we have still another variation in the current Tasmanian
stamps. But in one and all there is the dominant idea of the utility of bi-
coloured stamps. How long this latest experiment in postal design will
survive the rigorous test of hard use remains to be seen. It may, however, be
taken for granted that those stamps are open to great objection in which the
main portion of the design is printed in the same colour for all the low values,
leaving the distinction to be made only in the variety of colour used for the
name and value. The new Trinidad, and the still newer Sierra Leone
stamps, are thus seriously open to the objection that they do not afford sufficient
distinction in the matter of values.

Minor Why is it that some people can never advocate an idea of their
. own without running amuck of the favoured fad of somebody

else. The proposal that collecting should be simplified for the
junior collector has the hearty sympathy of most advanced philatelists. In
this awakening of interest in the junior collector, few have done greater service
than Mr. J. W. Scott of New York. He has had the courage to issue a
catalogue which omits all the minor varieties of watermark and perforation.
So far he has earned our thanks. But when he enters into a tirade against
the collection of minor varieties by advanced philatelists, and tells us that
" the most potent influence for evil so far developed is the multiplication of
minor varieties with their attendant albums and catalogues," we begin to doubt
not only his discretion, but even his sanity. As an old philatelist he must
know perfectly well that some of the most interesting of all philatelic problems
are indissolubly bound up with the study of minor varieties. To the earnest
and advanced philatelist the study of minor varieties yields the only available
key to the many interesting questions as to differences of engraving and
printing Minor differences of paper, of ink, and of perforation, all, in turn,
afford some necessary evidence for the piecing together of the postal history
of the countries in which we happen to be interested. In helping forward the
movement in favour of junior collecting, there is no shadow of necessity or
excuse for this senseless tirade against the study of minor varieties by advanced
philatelists.

THE STAMPS OF EGYPT.

267

^ko Stamps cf Qgypt.

By G. B. Duerst,

(Continued from page 241.^

(19). — 5 paras, orange, orange-yellow. Type I.

The first A in PARA in the left-hand top corner is narrow and
pointed, and the middle dot over the last sign of the Arabic
inscription in the top label is slightly higher. The point of the
pyramid touches the inner oval.

(20). — 5 paras, orange, orange-yel-

Type I.

II.

low. Type II.

The first A in PARA in
the left-hand top corner is
broad and square, and the
first dot over the last sign
in the Arabic inscription
in the top label is the
highest.

(21). — 5 paras, orange, orange-yel-
low. Type III.

The three dots over the
last Arabic sign in the top
label are on a level.

M»»>»«ooo«d«t««»» |»a<»<t>a »»»««.«<«»«»» »

Type III.

Type IY

(22). — 5 paras, orange, orange-yel-
low. Type IV.

The first dot over the last Arabic sign in the top label is
the lowest ; the hair of the sphynx touches the pyramid on the
left, and Pompey's pillar is without abacus.
(23). — 10 paras, lilac, grey lilac, bright violet. Type 1.

The head of the P in PARA in the left-hand top corner is much
larger than the one in the right top corner, and the first dot over
the last Arabic sign in the top label is larger than the other two.

Tyi>e I.

Type II.

Type ].

(24).-

Type III. Type IV.

10 paras, lilac, grey lilac, bright violet.

Type III.
Type II.
The point of the pyramid touches the inner oval ; the hair of
the sphynx touches the pyramid on the left ; the three dots over

268

THE PHTLATEUC RECORD.

jfllpl

mam*

Type IV

the last Arabic sign in the top label are of uniform size, but the
first is slightly higher than the other two.
(25).— 10 paras, lilac, grey lilac, bright violet. Type III.

The last A in PARA in the left-hand top corner is very narrow.
(26). — 10 paras, lilac, grey lilac, bright violet. Type IV.

The three dots of the last Arabic sign in the top label are of
uniform size, but the centre is slightly higher than the other two.
_ Types I. and III. have only three dots over the last Arabic
sign in the bottom label, whereas Types II and IV. have four
dots.

(27).— 20 paras, green, dark green, Type l Type il

yellow-green. Type I.

The pyramid touches the
ground on the left-hand
side and not the inner
oval; the shaft of Pompey's
pillar is not well centred
on the base, being more
to the left, and the first
Arabic sign in the bottom
label touches the upper
line.

(28), — 20 paras, green, dark green,
yellow-green. Type II.

The 2 in 20 in the left-
hand bottom corner hangs Type III
over to the left.

(29).— 20 paras, green, dark green, yellow-green. Type III.

There is a small accent over the first A in PARA in the left-
hand top corner ; the pyramid touches the inner oval on the left,
and the last A of PARA in the right-hand top corner leans over to
the right.

(30).— 20 paras, green, dark green, yellow green. Type IV.

_ There is a small white dot before the 2 of 20 in the bottom
right-hand corner, thus: -2, and the two dots underneath the second
Arabic sign in the bottom label have run into one another, forming
a line, whereas in all the other types these two dots are quite
distinct.

(31).— 1 piastre, red, rose. Type I.
The 3 dots over the last
Arabic sign in the top label
are on a level ; the line
forming the pyramid on
the right runs through the
ground and touches the
inner oval.

(32).— 1 piastre, red, rose. Type II.
Cleopatra's needle touches
the line under the E,
the pyramid touches the
inner oval on the right,
and the first dot over the
last Arabic inscription in
the top label is higher
than the other two.

Type III.

Type IV.

THE STAMPS OF EGYPT.

269

(33)-— 1 piastre, red, rose. Type III.

The centre stroke of the E in the right-hand top corner is very
short ; the point of the pyramid touches the inner oval, and the
dot over the q -shaped Arabic sign in the bottom label touches this
sign and also the inner line of the label.

(34).— 1 piastre, red, rose. Type IV.

The pyramid does not touch the oval on the right-hand side, and
the centre dot over the last Arabic sign in the top label is slightly
lower than the other two.

(35)- — 2 piastres, blue. Type I.

The two dots over the third Arabic sign
in the top label are on the same level ; the
pyramid touches the inner oval on the right,
and Cleopatra's needle touches the line under
the E. .

(36). — 2 piastres, blue. Type II.

The two dots over the third Arabic sign in
the top label are not on the same level, and the point of Cleopatra's
needle does not touch the line under the E.

(37). — 2 piastres, blue. Type III.

The <i -shaped Arabic sign in the bottom label is larger and more
open than in the other three types.

(38). — 2 piastres, blue. Type IV.

The 2 in the right-hand bottom corner hangs over to the left,
and the bottom stroke is quite straight instead of being curved.

(39). — 5 piastres, brown. Type I.

The three dots over the last Arabic sign
in the top label are on one level, and there
is a clear line of shading between the
pyramid and the inner oval.

(40). — 5 piastres, brown. Type II.

The three dots over the last Arabic sign
in the top label are not on a level, the first

dot being the highest and the point of the pyramid touches the
last line of the background.

(41). — 5 piastres, brown. Type III.

The last dot over the last Arabic sign in the top label is the
highest.

(42). — 5 piastres, brown. Type iV.

The end stroke of the third Arabic sign in the top label ends in
a straight line, whereas it is curved in the three other varieties.

Although expressly forbidden by Art. 52 of the official decree, we also find
in this issue diagonally cut stamps used as follows: —

(43). — 5 paras (J of 10 paras), bright violet.

(44). — 20 paras (^ of 1 piastre), rose.

(45). — 1 piastre (^ of 2 piastres), blue.

270 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

The stock of the 10 and 20 para stamps having run low in 1869, a new
supply was ordered. They look much cleaner than the former issue, especially
the Arabic inscription in the bottom label
looks much smaller ; it seems as if less colour IffiBgpiillll^^

was used in this printing. Coloured impres- m^^JvT~J!g

sion on white paper. Perforated 15 by ii\. RH^^^^P

(46). — 10 paras, bright violet. Type I. -:^>J1^J

(47).— 10 It If

i> U.

(48). — 10 // //

a III.

(49). — 10 // It

// IV.

(50). — 20 paras, bright green.

Type I.

(51).— 20 // if

// II.

(52). — 20 11 if

u III.

(53)-— 2° " "

« IV.

For specialists the following unofficial varieties may be of interest: —

A. — Imperforate.

5 paras, yellow.
20 paras, green.

1 piastre, red.

2 piastres, blue.

B. — Perforated horizontally 12J, and imperforate vertically.
5 paras, yellow.

C. — Perce $ en lignes.

1 piastre, red.

D. — Perforated 16.

1 piastre, red.

Varieties. — Printed on both sides :

20 paras, yellow-green.
1 piastre, red.

Some of these stamps are so badly perforated that they have the appearance
of being rouletted.

By a firman dated June 8th, 1867, the Sultan conferred the title ot Khedive
upon the Viceroy, and in consequence a new issue of stamps was necessitated,
bearing the present title

III. Issue. January is/, 1872.
Decree.

It has pleased H.H, the Khedive to approve of the issue of new postage stamps of seven
different values : 5, 10, and 20 paras, and 1, 2, 2J, and 5 piastres.

These stamps will be put into circulation on the 1st of January, 1872, and during that
month the general use of both the present and the new issue is allowed for the franking of
letters and printed matter.

The present stamps will cease to be accepted for such purposes on the loth of February,
1872, and letters, &c, hearing such stamps after this date will be considered as not franked
at all. The public, however, can exchange all stamps for new ones of the same value at the
post offices until the 31st of March, 1872, after which date they will not have any value.

A copy of this decree, with specimens of the new stamps, will be hung up during this
period in all post offices.

The Postmasteb-General,

Alexandria, 19th of December, 1871. MUZZY BEY.

The design is very similar to that of the last issue, but the pyramid is more
to right and the sphinx more to the left. The four corners contain the value

THE STAMPS OF EGYPT.

271

in figures. The Arabic inscriptions in the upper label reads : " Poste
Khedevie Masrie " ; in the bottom label, in Italian, ''Poste Khedeuie
Egiziane," both meaning " Post of the Egyptian Khedivate." The label on
the left-hand side contains the value in Arabic as follows :

Hams parat = 5 paras.

Ashra // = 10 u

Ashrin // = 20 u

Ghersh Wachet = 1 piastre.

Ghersheen = 2 piastres.

Ghersheen e nuss = i\ it

Hamsat Gherush = 5 u

The label on the right-hand side bears the inscription PARA, PIASTRA
or PIASTRE in Italian, according to the value. This issue was printed in
the Government offices at Cairo. They were printed lithographically in
colours on medium to thick yellowish white wove paper, in sheets of 200
stamps, in 20 rows of 10 stamps. A decorative fancy border, 9mm. wide, in
the colour of each value, was printed on the margin. The paper was dry
impressed with a crescent and five-pointed star, resembling a watermark. The
gum was at first yellow, in later printings white. Variously perforated.

Showing the Border.

This issue is the worst Egypt has ever produced, and is without the slightest
doubt the workmanship of native printers. The whole appearances point to
carelessness and slovenliness.

Type varieties also exist in this issue, but the stamps are so badly
executed that it is impossible to say which is type variety
defective printing.

and which is

272 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

A. — Perforated ii\ all round.
(54). — 5 paras, reddish-brown, light to dark.
(55). — 10 // lilac, pale to bright, grey-lilac, grey.
(56). — 20 // blue, dark blue, grey-blue, blue-slate.
(57)-— 1 piastre, rose, pale rose, red, bright red, vermilion.
(58). — 2 piastres, yellow, dull yellow.
(59). — 1\' n violet, pale to bright, slate.
(60). — 5 // pale green, yellow-green.

B. — Perforated 12 \ horizontally x 13I vertically.
(61). — 5 paras, reddish-brown, light to dark.
(62). — 10 11 bright lilac.
(63). — 20 // blue.
(64). — 1 piastre, rose-red.
(^5)' — 2 piastres, yellow, dull yellow.
(66). — 1\ if violet, slate.
(67). — 5 // yellow-green.

C. — Perforated 13 J horizontally x 12 J vertically.
(68). — 10 paras, pale lilac.
(69). — 20 ,, grey-blue.
(70). — i piastre, bright red.
(71). — 2 piastres, yellow.

D. — Perforated 13 \ all round.
(72). — 5 paras, reddish-brown, light to dark.
(73). — 10 » lilac.

(74). — 20 u dull blue, dark blue, grey-blue.
(75). — 1 piastre, bright red.
(76). — 2 piastres, yellow, dull yellow.
(77) — 5 // pale green, yellow-green.

All the stamps of this issue exist tete-beche, and also with watermark
inverted. Stamps with double perforation are also found.

The 20 para stamp, grey-blue, has been cut in two diagonally.

(78;. — 10 paras (-| of 20 paras), grey-blue.

For specialists the following unofficial varieties are added :—

Imperforated : —

5 paras reddish-brown.

10 // lilac.

20 // blue.

1 piastre red-rose.

2 piastres yellow.
2J- n violet.

5 // yellow-green.

Towards the end of 1874, tne stock of the 5 para stamps got very low, and
a fresh supply was needed. They were printed at the government offices by

THE STAMPS OF EGYPT.

native printers, and the result has been exceedingly curious. Not a single
stamp on the sheet is correct ; centres and labels are all mixed up, and the
stamps are all over the sheet in a glorious confusion. This issue is generally
known under the expression : the 5 paras with inverted figures.

April 1875.
A. — Perforated 12^ all round.
(79). — 5 paras, light reddish-brown.

B. — Perforated ii\ horizontally x 132 vertically.
(80).— 5 paras, light reddish-brown.

C. — Perforated \^\ horizontally x 12^ vertically.
(81). — 5 paras, light reddish-brown.

D. — Perforated 13 J all round.
(82). — 5 paras, light reddish-brown.

. * 1 < e «.
-r « -

Specialists will have to collect this value in pairs, strips, and blocks, as the
most curious and varied tete-beche combinations are found. This stamp
also exists imperforate.

The new value of i\ piastres, appearing for the first time is this issue, being
little in demand, the" government thought it best to surcharge them with a
more useful value, and as the New Year was approaching and for this occasion
5 and 10 para stamps being very much required, 1700 sheets were sucharged,
850 sheets for each value.

274 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

The surcharge consists of a large figure, on the left of which is the word
PARAS and on the right the value in Arabic as follows : —

Hams parat = 5 paras,
Ashra u = 10 //
The whole surcharge is in black bold type.

1st of January, 1879.

A. — Perforated 12 J- all round.
(83). — 5 paras on i\ piastres, lilac, deep lilac.
(84). — 10 u i\ a " a

B. — Perforated 12^ horizontally x 1^2 vertically.
(85). — 5 paras on 2-| piastres, lilac, deep lilac.
(86). — 10 a n\ a a a

C. — Perforated 13-^ all round.
(87). — 5 paras on z\ piastres, lilac, deep lilac.
(88). — 10 // i\ a n a

This surcharge exists also inverted, and the following varieties are found : —

A. — Perforated 12^ all round.
(89). — 5 paras on i\ piastres, lilac, deep lilac.
(90). — 10 11 i\ 11 i' a

B. — Perforated 12^ horizontally X 132 vertically.
(91). — 5 paras on i\ piastres, lilac, deep lilac.
(92). — 10 a i\ a a a

C. — Perforated 13^ all round.
(93). — 5 paras on i\ piastres, lilac, deep lilac.
(94). — 10 11 ik 1 " "

As every sheet of the i\ piastres contains one tete-beche variety, such tete-
beche pairs must also be found with the surcharge right and inverted.

The surcharged stamps could only be used in Cairo and in Alexandria, and
were Sold the last days of December 1878.

[To be continued.')

THE FIRST POSTAGE STAMPS.

275

London philatelic Qxhihition, 1892*

HE arrangements for the great Exhibition to be held next year in
the Metropolis are progressing very satisfactorily in every respect.
We have already published the full list of the General Committee,
and the election from that numerous body of an Executive Com-
mittee of those who were willing to place their services at the
disposal of the General Committee. The Executive so chosen
has lost no time in apportioning the work amongst its members. It met on
the 15th of October at the Rooms of the Philatelic Society of London, and
sub-divided itself into the following Committees : —

W. B. Avery.
M. P. Castle.

Finance Committee

Major Evans.
G. F. Hynes.

W. H. Peckett.

General Purposes Committee :

E. D. Bacon. M. Giwelb. R. Pearce.

M. P. Castle. H. R. Oldeield. Gordon Smith.

W. Jones. R. Ehrenbach. W. T. Wilson.

W. D. Beck ton. W. Hadlow.

Advertising and Publicity Committee

S. E. Gwyer.

E. J. Nankivell.
T. Maycock.

C. J. Phillips.

The Prospectus, giving full particulars of the grouping of countries, and a
most liberal list of Medals for competition, is in course of revision, and will
probably be ready for publication in our next issue. As soon as that Prospectus
is in the hands of the public, it is to be hoped that all philatelists will set to
work, and do their best to contribute to the final success of the Exhibition.
The responsibility shouldered so willingly by the busy men who compose the
Executive Committee should be a sufficient incentive to every English philatelist
to do his level best to make the Exhibition worthy of our country.

^ho (pirst postage £ta?ry?$.

From the Eastern Philatelist, U.S.A.

EOM time to time articles on the origin of the prepaid postage stamp have

appeared in our loading philatelic papers, most of which have reckoned

the postage- stamp era from the Sardinian issue of 1818. But m an

interesting little pamphlet entitled "Du Service des Pontes, et de la

Taxation des Lettres au Moyen d'mi Timbre," by M. Piron, Under Director

of the Posts (Paris, 1838), we find mention made of postage stamps issued

and used something over a century and a half before this.

It was in 1653 that M. de Yelayer, a resident of Paris, established in that city,

with the sanction of Louis XIV, the reigning monarch, a penny post ; placing boxes

at the street corners for the reception of letters wrapped in envelopes, which were

franked by bands of paper fastened around them, and on which was printed,

Post

276 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

paid the day of 1653." The date was to be filled in at the time of mailing by

the user.

These were the first steps towards the modern stamped envelopes, and were the
very first prepaid postage stamps. They were sold for a sou-tape each, being pro-
curable at various places throughout the city. M. de Velayer, however, does not
seem to have found this enterprise a success, and it survived but two years.

But in 1758, under Louis XV., M. De Chamouset, a wealthy Parisian, established
a post for that city, charging two sols for single letters under an ounce in weight,
which were prepaid by adhesive stamps similar to those now in use.

Backed by abundant capital, the system was very successful until the Crown,
jealous of its increasing revenues, revoked M. De Chamouset's privilege, compensating
him by an annual pension of twenty thousand francs, and endeavoured to continue
the service as a government office. So meagre, however, were the arrangements that
the stamps soon fell into disuse and ceased to be issued.

The first government to issue postage stamps was Spain, when by royal decree of
December 7, 1716, she authorised their use in prepayment of matter passing over the
government post lines. These stamps, which consisted of the royal arms of Castile
and Leon impressed in ink on the envelope or wrapper, were at first for the use of the
public, but some weeks later their use was restricted to public officials only and matter
concerning public affairs. These stamps remained in use until the beginning of the
present century.

Next, and third on the list, comes the Sardinia (Italy) issue of 1818. It consists
of three values of stamped envelopes, the 15, 25, and 50 centesimi, all being of the
same simple design. They were placed on sale November 1, 1819, and after a few
years' existence were withdrawn March 30, 1836.

An unsuccessful attempt was made about this time to secure the adoption of
stamped envelopes by the post office department of Sweden by one Trefenberg, but
the bill failed to pass the Assembly of Swedish nobility.

We now come to Great Britain, the first country to establish a complete public
postal system, although the fourth to issue postage stamps. In 1644, Edmund
Prideaux, a member of the House of Commons, was appointed master of the posts,
and he established a regular post (weekly) to all parts of the kingdom. In 1656 an
act of Parliament settled the following rates for single letters to any part of England,
Scotland, and Ireland : 2d. for seven miles and under, and ranging to 14d. for not
more than 300 miles.

Between this period and 1838 more than 150 Acts relative to postal affairs were
passed, but the rates of postage remained unchanged. These rates were almost
prohibitory, and but a small quantity of paid matter went through the mails, but, on
the contrary, the franking privilege, which had been granted to members of
Parliament and to officers of the government was much abused.

In 1837, Mr Eowland Hill, then not connected with the postal service, published
a pamphlet on post office reform, in which he advocated a sweeping change, in fact a
doing away with almost all the established customs of the department. He suggested
that all inland postage be reduced to a uniform rate : Id. for each half -ounce ; the
weight of the letter and not the number of sheets to form the basis of the rate ; the
entire abolishing of the franking system ; and finally, the prepayment of all postal
matter by stamps. These were incorporated by him into a bill which he introduced
into Parliament. It was a bold project and met with strong and determined
opposition, but upon receipt of thousands of petitions from people throughout the
realm, begging for the change, Parliament, moved by such a general manifestation,
appointed a committee to examine the plan. Finally, after many stormy debates, it
was adopted in 1839, the first stamps being used on May 6th, 1840.

As soon as the issuing of postage stamps was decided on, the authorities
published an offer of five hundred pounds for the best design for a stamp, " simplicity
and facility in working, combined with such precautions as should prove effectual
against forgery," being the essentials required. Thousands of designs poured in, but
almost the simplest of them all, the well-known production of Heath of London,
secured the award. About the same time the Mulready envelope, whose elaborate
design contrasts strongly with the adhesives, made its appearance.

Thus begins the history of the postage stamp, of which thousands are now issued
annually and whose collectors are numbered by tens of thousands.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

277

J^ovelties and discoveries.

Argentine Republic. — Mr. Mor-
genthau has shown the American Journal
of Philately three varieties of the 2c. green
of the Argentine Eepublic of the 1888
issue, the principal difference consisting
in the distance between the top of the
head and the frame above it, which
measures respectively 2, 2£, and 3 mm.
in the three types.

Belgium.— We are indebted to Mr.
Walter A. Eiley for a copy of a special
stamp to commemorate the Brussels Ex-
hibition of 1897. It is of the large
rectangular plaster variety, measuring
35 mm. x 21mm.; is labelled "Bruxelles,
Brussel, 1897," and has a perforated
Sunday label. It is of the nominal value
of 10c, its real value is about the same
as waste paper.

Adhesive.
ioc, brown, Exhibition stamp.

British Central Africa.— Our pub-
lishers have received the large rectangular
fisoals used postally. They appear to
have been used in the month of May of
this year.

Adhesives.
Fiscals used postally.

is. on jQi, blue, value in red, black sur
2s 6d , lilac value in red.
4s., black, value in red.

British East Africa. — Our pub-
lishers have received two new varieties in
postcards: la. on l£a. India, surcharge!
with the ordinary surcharge ; and another
of the same value, surcharged in blue, in
larger type.

They have also had two fresh varieties
in envelopes ; 2£a., surcharged on the
Indian 4^a., showing two varieties of the
surcharge, one being in three lines in blue
and close together, the other in black and
much wider apart.

Also the 2|a. in red on the Ha. Indian,

ith
line.

■z\ on i^a., brown, India, without fractional dividing
line.

Postcards.

ia. on i^a., India, two vars. of sur.

Envelopes.

aia. on 4ja., India, two vars. of sur.

British Guiana- — Our publishers
have had the 2c. black 'and violet of 1889,
with red figure " 2 " inverted.

Adhesive.
1889. 2C, black and violet : "2" inverted.

British South Africa.— We have to
add the Is. value to the Cape stamps,
surcharged ' l British — South Africa —
Company." The stamp surcharged is the
recently issued Is. ochre.

Adhesives.

Provisional on Cape stamp.

is. ochre, black sur.

Curacao.— Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co., send us the 15c. unpaid in a slightly
altered type, and inform us that all the
stamps on the sheet are now exactly of
the same type.

Adhesive.

Unpaid Stamp.

15c. green and black.

France.— The Monthly Journal pub-
lishes the following from VAutorite: —

Mo ns. Boucher, Minister ot Commerce, has
decided upon the suppression of the following
classes of postage stamps, the demand for which
is very small, and which have the incon-
venience of uselessly increasing the numbers of
postal values in stock at each Post-office : —

1. Adhesive stamps at 75 centimes.

2. Large-sized envelopes at 5 centimes.

3. Small ,, „ 15 centimes.

4. Stamped wrappers 3 ,,

5. Unpaid letter stamps at 60c. and 1 franc.

According to Alfred Smith's Monthly
Circular the design for the new French
stamp, which we illustrated in March last
(p. 71), has been definitely accepted by
the authorities. The impression will not,
it is said, be in two colours, but in one
colour on tinted paper, as at present.

Zanzibar.— Messrs. Whitfield King &
Co. send us the current French of., sur-
charged 50 annas, for use in Zanzibar.

Adhesive.
50 annas on 5ft-., lilac, sur. in black.

Great Britain: Levant. — Messrs.
Whitfield King and Co. send us the
current 10d., English adhesive, surcharged
"4 piastres " in sans serif letters. The
surcharge measures 17 mm. in length and
2 mm. in height.

Adhesive.
rod. purple and scarlet, black sur.

278

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Mr. Morley sends the following notes
to the Monthly Journal : —

2d., blue, wmk. Small Crown, perf. 16 and
perf . 14, plates 4 and 5. Mr. Morley finds that
these can be readily distinguished by means of
the corner letters.

Fiscal Stamps admitted to Postal use. Id.,
lilac (Draft or Receipt), wmk. Foul Anchor ;
there are three varieties of this anchor 16 mm.
ia height, but a copy has turned up with the
Foul anchor measuring; 18 mm.

(Inland Ee venue), wmlc.
Die E only has been pre-

1s , vermilion
Anchors, Die F.
viously noted.

Government Parcels Stamp. The Is., green,
current type, without the stop under the letter
" t " of the surcharge.

Letter Card. The card is found in two

distinct varieties of shade.

Gwalior. — The Postmaster- General,
Gwalior, informs the Quarterly Philatelic
Circular that the following postage stamps
have been overprinted for use in this

State : —

Adkesives.

2 annas, 6 pies, green.

i rupee, carmine and green.

2 rupees, carmine and brown.

3 rupees, brown and green.
5 rupees, blue and mauve.

J oh ore. — The new design with the
portrait of the new Sultan is to hand.
Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. send us a
series of seven values, viz., lc., 2c., 3c.,
4c, oc, 6c, and 1 dollar. They are some-
thingafter the style of the current Siamese
with coloured labels of value in the lower
corners, to the left in native character, and
to the right in English. The portrait is
in an octagonal frame with native inscrip-
tion around. Between the labels of value
are the words " JOHOEE— POSTAGE
—EE VENUE," in three lines. The
stamps are watermarked with a cross, and
are perf. 14.

Adkesives.

i cent, green.

2 cents, green, labels in blue.

3 cents, green, labels in mauve.

4 cents, green, labels in red.

5 cents, green, labels iu brown.

6 cents, green, labels in yellow,
i dol., violet, labels in green.

Mexico. — The American Journal of
Philately chronicles a new watermark,
viz., the letters "EM" interlaced ap-
pearing in full on each stamp. On in-
specting their stock the publishers of the
A. J. P. find that this watermark came into
use some time ago, but seems to have
escaped notice until now.

They have the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 centavos
with this new watermark, and give the

earliest dates that they have found on
each value as follows : —

lc February 22nd, 1806.

2c February 24th, 189G.

3c March (?), 1896.

4c February 10th, 1896.

5c. December 29th, 1896.

Queensland. — Mr. Wm. Hadlow
sends us the new type of penny with
figures of value in the lower triangles.

Adhesive.
id., red, new type.

Samoa..— Filatelic Facts and Fancies
stys the current stamp, King Malietoa,
of 2Jd. value, has been printed in the
black shade of the New Zealand id. Ac-
cording to Postmaster Davis, of Samoa,
only one printing was made in this colour
by the Auckland government printers,
and that by mistake. Since this printing
the publishers of the F. F. F. have received
the copies of the stamp in the old colour.

A dhesive.
2jd., black, error of colour.

St. Helena— Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. inform us that this colony joined the
Postal Union on the 1st October, 1896.
They send us a set of new values in the
current colonial type Seychelles pattern,
but printed in one colour instead of
being bi-coloured. So long ago as 1 890
;i lijd.of this type, bi-coloured, was issued.
The new values are — Id., 2d., 2^d., od.,
and lOd. They are watermarked Cr. and
CA. and perf. 14.

Adkesives.

id., red.

2d., yellow,

2id., blue

5d , violet.

iod., brown.

Sierra Leone.— The old type has at
last given place to the new bi-coloured
stamp. The design is the same as the
current Seychelles type. Wmk. Cr. and
CA. Perf. 14.

Adkesives.
id., lilac, name and value in red.
2d., lilac, name and value in yellow.
2^d., liiac, name and value in blue.
3d., lilac, name and value in slate,
is., green, name and value in black.

Tonga. — The Australian Philatelist
has received from this country what it
terms " the most remarkable object ever
seen," and which it describes as follows :

It purports to be a provisional ^d. stamp, and
may be briefly described as " Imprimis, a 2^d.
adhesive stamp, printed in pale blue, overprinted
vertically 'surcharge 73d.' in red, reading up-
wards, again overprinted ' Vaeua oe Beni ' in
black, reading downwards, again overprinted

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

279

' Halfpenny ' in two lines in violet, reading
crosswise." The final overprint has heen ap-
plied by means of a typewriter ! and we have
the Vice-Consul's assurance that such things
are necessary.

Adhesive.
Id. on 7^d., on 2jd. violet, black, red, and blue.

Uganda Protectorate.— According

to the Quarterly Philatelic Circular this
new Protectorate may be expected before
long to attract the attention of philatelists,
as it is reported that Mr. F. J. Jackson,
one of the Assistant Commissioners, has,
with considerable ingenuity, instituted a
sort of native post, in connection with
which he has had prepared a series of
typewritten postage stamps, the currency
being in cowrie shells. It is said that the
natives are availing themselves of the new
medium of sending messages and letters
to their friends, and that the post may
be said to be in thorough working order.
The obliteration of the stamps is done
with pen and ink.

Zanzibar. — It will be a philatelic
blessing when this eruptive Protectorate
settles down to hum-drum postal issues.
We are quite out of breath in our " best
endeavours " to keep pace with, the
numberless varieties that we hear of from
month to month. It was most incon-
siderate of that last Sultan to flit as he
did just when a permanent series had been
arranged.

Our publishers have the 2£a., in red, on
l^a., India, with and without the frac-
tional dividing line.

Also the 2£a., in red, on 2a., blue, India,
with two varieties of the large figure "2,"
one about h m. larger than the other. Of
the larger figure there are 24 stamps in
two rows of 12 on each sheet of 120
stamps.

Also further values of the British East

Africa new design, surcharged " Zanzi_
bar," viz., 4^a., oa , and 7^a., all sur
charged in black.

And, lastly, they have found in their
stock of surcharges on Indians a fresb
variety in the shape of the letter "i"
without the dot. This variety probably
runs through all values, but so far they
have only found it on the ^a., 2a., 4a.-,
6a., 8a., and lr.

Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. send us
the current 1 rupee, carmine and green,
of India, surcharged " Zanzibar."

Adhesive.
t rupee, carmine and green (India).

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No. 1 , price one shilling (postage extra).

The October packet contains several
varieties, viz. : — Bulgaria, 1 stot; Servia,
1 para; Greece, 1 lept; Fiji, Id., rose, &c.

No. 2, price five shillings (postage extra).

The October packet contains several
varieties, viz. : — British South Africa Co.
(current type), re-drawn, -£d., Id., 2d.,
3d., 4d., 6d., 8d., and Is., &c.

These packets ate on sale until November 30th (unless
the supply is previously exhausted) and are supplied
only to Siibscribers to the Philatelic Record and
Stamp News. Similar packets will be on sale every
month, and may be subscribed for in advance for the
year (January to December inclusive), at the following
rates : — No. 1 packet (sent by book post with the paper),
12s. post-free (if by letter post the postage is is. extra
Inland ; 2s. 6d. Abroad). No. 2 packet (by letter post),
Inland 61s., Abroad 62s. 6d., post-free.

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum) is extra.
— Buhl & Co, Limited, 11, Queen Victoria Street, E.C

The earliest information as to New Issues will be muck appreciated by us, and will be duly credited

10 the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our Joreiyn correspondents can

materially help us in this direction. When possible, a specimen

should accompany the information, and be addressed to

the Editor Mr. Edwakd J. Nankivell,

28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon.

28o

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

^kilaioly in the jKlaQs*

France; 1 Franc Vermilion.

The Schiveizer Briefmarken Zeitung
(Geneva) publishes the following notice
from the Geneva Exhibition : —

Amongst the exhibits there was an official
decree dated December 1st, 1849, and affixed
to the same are two half-stamps, one of 1 franc
red vermilion, the other of 1 franc carmine.
The decree reads as follows : — " Whereas the
stamps of 40 centimes shortly to be issued have
been printed in red vermilion, there is great
fear that the colour of this stamp will clash
with that of the 1 franc, and will be the cause
of loss to the Treasury. In consequence, it
has been decided that all stamps of 1 franc in
the colour of No. 1 on this sheet be returned
to the Administration, and be replaced imme-
diately by stamps of a deeper shade than
No. 2."

This would place the date of issue of
the 1 franc carmine three months earlier
than it has been done up to now.

Spain, 1864, Perf. 12£.

The Philatelist (Dresden), in the Sep-
tember number, notices the following
novelty, which no doubt will interest
our readers : —

A gentleman bought a great quantity of
ordinary Spanish stamps, in all 61-3,000. In
sorting these out he found twenty of the
4 cuartos, 1864, rose on flesh-coloured paper,
perforated 12J, the existence of which was not
known. The stamps had been collected by a
Spanish naval officer, who seemed to have had
little or no knowledge of stamps, as some
rather valuable stamps were found bundled
together with the cheapest rubbish. It seems,
therefoie, impossible that these stamps, or rather
the perforation, has been forged. The question
is, were these stamps perforated privately, or is
it a trial perforation .

Roumania, 5 bani, error.

The Timbre-Poste has a very interesting
article on the question, whether the 5
bani rose, 1879, is really an error or only
an essay. M. Moens, in his latest cata-
logue, declares it to be an essay. Mr.
Friedl, of Vienna, says it is a genuine
error, and sends M. Moens a postcard,
addressed to himself, in 1879, franked
with one of these 5 bani rose stamps, in
addition to the 5 bani impressed on the
card — in all, 10 bani, which is the postage
for postcards in the postal union .

The Timbre-Poste continues —

Unfortunately, the obliteration, which is
partly on the card and partly on the stamp, is
not the same either in thickness or in colour.
It is dark blue on the stamp and light blue on
the card The first letter of the town Tseverin,
which is on the card, is a hook instead of a T,
and is in light blue, whereas the rest of the
obliteration on the stamp is in dark blue. It
sterns to us that the original stamp on the card
has been replaced by the 5 bani essay, which
had been obliterated with a forged die.

Besides, the plate of the 10 bani dark blue of
1876 was corrected by the suppression of the
error before the printing of the 10 bani ultra-
marine in November, 1878. This error could,
therefore, not exist in April, 1879, in rose.

But what about the pair of 10 and 5
bani rose, 1879, shown at the Vienna
Exhibition, 1894 ? They were undoubt-
edly a genuine vertical used pair, and
their existence seems to prove conclu-
sively that the error still existed on the
plate in November, 1879.

Roumanian Levant.

From the Courrier des Timbres-Poste we
take the following with regard to the
official character of the Eoumanian
Levant stamps: —

Gentlemex,

In answer to your favour, the Director
General of the Roumanian Post directs me to
say that the Ottoman surcharge on Roumanian
stamps has been effected by the Agent of the
Roumanian Steamship Company, at Constan-
tinople, with our permission, but that the sale
of these stamps has been stopped for some
time.

Yours. &c,

G. Flo.esco,

Secretary.

Baden : Errors of Colour.

The Deutsche Briefmarken Zeitung (Ber-
lin) has a very interesting article by
C. Lindenberg on Baden with special
reference to the errors of colour. The
greatest care has to be observed when
acquiring the 9 Kreuzer green, as it is
very easy to change the rose lilac colour
to green. Genuine copies undoubtedly
do exist, but they should only be taken
with great caution and never without a
guarantee.

The Baden stamps are printed in water
colours, which can be easily discharged.
Ee-dying them to any desired colour is

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

281

then very easy. Every value can be had
on white paper, especially the 3 Kreuzer
yellow.

Vaud, 5c.

The Schiveizer Briefmarken Zeitung
(Geneva) publishes the following notice :

In the Exhibition at Geneva was a recon-
structed sheet of the 100 varieties of the 5c.
Vaud ; only two stamps were short — No. 28 and
No. 76, and these have never been seen yet.
On the upper margin the following inscription
can be seen : —

TIMBRES d'AF
valables pour le canton de

Geneve a
lith.
The full text would be : " Timbres d'affran-
chissement valables pour le canton de Geneve
a l'exception de l'enclave de Celiquy, litho-
graphic Schraid a Geneve," but only part of
the margin has been found.

San Marino. Numbers printed.

The Berliner Briefmarken Zeitung has
a short article on the stamps of San
Marino.

The quantities printed are given as
follows : —

1877. — 2c, 100,000; 10c, 50,000; 20c,
300,000 ; 30c, 25,000 ; 40c, 25,000.

1892.— 5 on 30, 10,000; 5 on 10, 20,000;
10 on 20, 40,000 ; 10 and 20 on 20, 40,000,

1892, new issues in different colours. — 5c,
100,000 ; 30c, 25,000 ; 40c. 25,000 ; 45c,
25,000; li'r., 5.00O.

1894.— 2c, 100,000 ; 10c, 40,000 ; 15c,
20,000; 65c, 15,000; 2fr., 10,000; 5fr., 5,000.

1894, Jubilee issue.— 25c, 200,000 ; 50c.
100,000 ; lfr., 100,000.

1895.— 2c, 200,000; 20c. 40,000; 100c,
5,000.

in all 1,025,000 stamps for a population of
about S000.

Mauritius Postal Report.

The Monthly Journal publishes the
folJ owing extract from The Merchants'
and Planters' Gazette, published at Port
Louis, and dated August 7th, 1896 : —

" Second Interim Report of the Postal
Department Inquiry Committee.

" "With reference to tbe question of deter-
mining the values of the new stamps, to be
indented for from England, consequent on the
alteration in our postal rates, and in presence of
the suggestion from the Secretary of State for
the Colonies, in his Despatch, No. 323, of 18th
December, 1894, that in future postage stamps
should be applicable to both postal and revenue
purposes, the Committee recommend that stamps
of the following values be ordered, viz. : —

Of lc to be used for making up differences

with other stamps, when necessary,
do. 2c 1 for Post Cards, Christmas and New

Tear's cards,
do. 4c Inland Postage and Receipt,
do. 5c do. Letters, Drafts at sight,
do. 8c do. Local Registration,
do. 15c do. Letters, Drafts, Bills, &c.
do. 18c do. Present Postal Tariff for abroad,
do. 25c. do. Letters, Drafts, Bills, Bills of

Lading,
do. 50c do. Letters, Drafts. Bills of Lading.
do. R. 1 do. Civil Status Acts, Bills, &c.
do. Rs. 2.50 for Letters, Bills, &c
do. Rs. 5 for Letters, Bills, &c
do. 18c and 36c for envelopes similar to exist-
ing sizes of Registered Envelopes, F. & G.
do. 8c. for Post Cards, single,
do. 8c for Reply Post Cards (each page).

" This combination, it is calculated, will meet
all probable requirements, both postal and
revenue.

" The stamps to be of the new design ; i.e.
' the Arms of Mauritius.' Each series to bear
a different colour.

"To obviate the necessity of the words
' Postal and Revenue ' appearing on the stamps,
for which there does not appear to be sufficient
space on the die already cast, the Committee
recommend that a Regulation be framed, enact-
ing that the stamps of the new issue shall be
available for both postal and revenue purposes.

" There being no possibility, however, of
including in the above combination the Inland
Revenue Stamps which are, at present, issued in
series of three, and Insurance Stamps, as per
Ordinance No. 2 of 18H9, the Committee con-
sider that these stamps may continue to be issued
for certain Revenue purposes, for which they
were designed, the dies being preserved to meet
future requisitions.

" The Committee beg to draw attention to the
fact that the cost of the new stamps is not likely
to exceed by much the sum of Rs. 3000, includ-
ing exchange ; since in terms of a letter from
the Crown Agents for the Colonies, of 12th
December, 1894, the same die will serve for the
printing of all the stamps. The only additional
expenditure to be incurred will be on account
«»f the overprint, including the different values
of the stamps required, and the printing of the
stamps, which cost only lOd. per thousand.
" W. T. A. Edwards, M.D.,

Chairman,
" Postal Department Inquiry Committee.
" Council Chambers, zZthJuly, 1896."

Australian Prices.

A wicked scribbler having had the
hardihood to suggest that there is a
" slump " in Australians in the matter
of prices, Mr. Castle has taken up the
cudgels " on behalf of this most interest-
ing group." He contends in the London
Philatelist that there is no slump: not a
bit of it ; only a drop in prices . The
main reasons " for the less prominent
position now held by Oceanian stamps are
not far to seek," and he sums them up as
follows : —

282

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

We should cite the fact of the bad times in
Australia, which have caused so many collectors
" out there " to part with their treasures; the
cessation of their collection, through various
causes, by certain leading collectors in Europe,
e.g. the late Mr. T. K. Tapling, MM. Caillebotte
(to one of whom the same sad prefix must be
given), and the present Vice-President of the
London Society ; the fact that many other col-
lectors have completed their plates ; and lastly,
the extraordinary and volcanic impetus that has
raised the West Indian stamps to be the fashion
of the day.

Cape Wood Blocks.

In a long and interesting series of
Notes on the Cape Stamps, by Capt.
N orris-Newman, published in the London
Philatelist, we get a little further light on
the so-called " wood blocks."

The supplies of Id. and 4d. triangular stamps
beginning to run short in January, 1861, ar-
rangements were made with Messrs. Saul
Solomon & Co., the then Government printers,
to issue a temporary supply, which was done
during April, 1861, after a long correspondence
and some difficulty. The original design was
copied and engraved on wood — two separate
engravings of the Id. and 4d. — by the late Mr.
Charles Bell, the Surveyor-General of the Cape
Colony ; and these were reproduced by some
electrotype or stereotype process separately,
until sixty-four blocks of each were done.
These were then cemented on wood, in four
horizontal rows, of eight pairs in each row ; but
the dies were so unevenly arranged and put
together on the wood, that the spaces between
the stamp-pairs and rows vary from one-six-
teenth to three-sixteenths of an inch, irregularly
throughout : the total length and breadth of the
sheets being 10 \ x 4, with a margin all round
of nearly three-quarters of an inch. Owing,
doubtless, to carelessness in cementing the re-
produced dies together, one error crept into each
block, viz., a Id. red die with the 4d. blue plate,
and vice versa.

Of this provisional issue the records show
that 385 sheets— twenty over = 24,680— of the
Id. were issued by the Government to the pub-
lic ; and of the 4d. 200 sheets — forty over =
12,840 ; but there is nothing to show what
quantity was printed by Saul Solomon & Co.,
or actually delivered by them to the authorities.

It is hardly probable that they would have
delivered anything but complete sheets ; so that
the likelihood is that a complete sheet or more,
and the missing portions of the others, were
acquired as specimens by officials previous to
their issue to the public.

The paper used was a very ordinary white
laid of average quality ; well gummed, with no
wmk. or perforations. There is no record in the
office of any more than one printing, as they
were all delivered on the same day ; but the
difference in colour and shade shows distinctly
that the printers must have used separate lots of
ink, and may have made two or more printings
of the issue. Neither is there anything to show
whether the error ot change of dies was found out
during the printings or afterwards, as it was only

after their reproduction for reprinting purposes
in 1884 that the dies were removed— two from
the Id. and one from the 4d. — and the blocks
afterwards put away ; they are still kept locked
up in the vaults under three keys, in the pos-
session of the Under Colonial Secretary, the
Auditor-General, and the Treasurer-General, all
of whom must be present to get them out.
There is nothing to show absolutely when these
dies were removed from the block, or what has
become of them ; but the Assistant-Treasurer
assured me that to the best of his knowledge
they were only removed previous to the reprint-
ing, and subsequently destroyed.

This provisional issue was entirely sold out
about Sept., 1861 ; and no sheets, or even single
specimens, were left in the possession of the
Post Office officials or Department, the Post-
master-General having none for insertion in

the official collect!

From information I

obtained from a late foreman in the litho,
printing department of the late firm of Saul
Solomon & Co., it is certain that no strict
official check was particularly kept upon the
printing of this first provisional, as the firm
priced all the paper and materials themselves ;
and he remembers several sheets being de-
stroyed, as being defective, during the print-
ings, for he says they were not all printed off
on the one day.

Nova Scotia Remainders.

According to the Boston Stamp Book,
the recent find of Nova Scotia remainders
of the cents issues consisted of 200,000
stamps, not sets, divided as follows : —

On white paper —

1 cent 52,000.

2 cents 54,000.

10 cents 28,000.

On yellow paper —

8£ cents 54,000.

12^ cents 12,000.

British Guiana Die Varieties.

The Boston Stamp J look, in its interest-
ing " Reference List of Type and Die
Varieties " by the editor, Mr. John
Luther Kilbon, in its October issue, has
the following note on die varieties of
British Guianas : —

1853—1860.

The first issue of this design v\ as put out with
the date 1853, one numeral in each corner, on an
ornamental back ground. In 1860, the design
was altered by making the ground at the corners
plain, and making the date 1860. A white
square was drawn around each numeral. This
set was made up with a wide space between the
value and the word "cents." In 1863 the
lettering at the bottom was changed, though
the date numerals remained the same. As a
consequence, the space between the value and
the word "cents" is much narrower in this
type, which is one of the most often seen.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

283

A. Date 1853; numerals unframed on fancy

ground.

B. Date 1860; numerals framed on plain

ground ; wide space between words of
bottom label.

C. Date 1800 ; numerals framed on plain

ground ; narrow space.

1881, 2 cents ox 93 cents.

The shape of the numeral in the surcharge is
different in the two types of this stamp. In
one, the bottom of the numeral is straight, in
the other it is curved.

A. Bottom of numeral straight.

B. Bottom of numeral curved.

South Australia 2d., Orange, Wmk. SA.
Close.

Mr. George Blockey sends the London
'Philatelist the following complete list of
the varieties, rare and otherwise, of per-
foration of the 2d. orange, close " SA,"
all of which he has in his own collection,
fortunate man: —

Dates when in use or issued.

1870-93... perf. 10
Aug. 1877 )

and \ „ Hi

Mar lb80

„ Hi x 12|
Mar. 1880 „ lHxll£xll} x 10
Oct. 1878 ,, 10 xl2i
„ 10 xll}
Oct. 1878 „ 10 xlOx 10 x 11 l, oi-
lO x 10 x 11. J x 10
„ „ 10x10x10x12}, or

10 x 10 x 12} xlO
Mar. 1880 „ 11.} x 10

„ „ ll}xl0x 10 x 10, oi-

lO x 11} x 10 x 10
April 1, 1893 „ 15.
July 1,1893 „ 13.

German Stamps: Last year's supply.

Amongs; the most interesting infor-
mation that a philatelist can secure from
the official records, are particulars of the
numbers printed of the various issues.
We are indebted to Filatelic Fact* and
Fancies for the following : —

It may he interesting to our readers to know
how many stamps were furnished by the
Imperial printing office, post office department
of Germany, in one year, from the 1st of April,

1895, to the 31st March, 1896, and we, there-
fore, give the list as follows : —

3,306,600 sheets of stamps of 3 pfenige.

3,314,100 // // 5 //

7,283,000 11 11 10 //

1,563,500 '/ 11 20 //

412,200 // // 25 //

806,500 // 11 50 //

8,380 11 a 2 mk.

This gives a grand total of 16,754,280 sheets,
equal to 1,675,428,000 stamps at 184,396,300
marks. Besides the foregoing there was a good
lot of postal stationery, with over 256,000,000
postal cards, and closing with the small amount
of 5000 pneumatic reply cards.

U.S. Bureau Minor Varieties.

Mr. Bartels, of Washington, gives in
the Weekly Stamp News the following
interesting particulars as to some of the
minor varieties which have been found in
stamps turned out by the Bureau of En-
graving : —

There recently appeared a long article in the
JL tropolitan Philatelist, which was copied in
the Daily Stamp Item, in regard to minor
varieties issued by the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing. The following explanation in regard
to some of these has been given which may be
of interest to some of your readers.

In the beginning the Bureau was taxed to its
utmost ability to keep up with the demand for
stamps, and the employes had to work day and
night. The examining and re-examining had
to be dispensed with entirely, which permitted
a number of sheets to get out perforated verti-
cal ly only. The imperf urate varieties are pro-
bably sample sheets which were sent to the
Post Office Department, and by some means got
into the hands of the public. These latter must
be very scarce, and it is believed that not more
than one or two sheets of several denominations
were sent out in all.

It was formerly the practice of the Bureau to
cancel all imperfect sheets by running them
through the perforating machine a second time,
causing a double perforation. Some of these
must have gotten out and are the ones referred
to in the article. This method of canceling the
1- jected sheets has been abandoned, and is now
accomplished by a special machine with narrow
black parallel lines across the whole sheet
There is a record kept of every sheet printed,
the rejected as well as the good. They are sent
to the Treasury Department together, and the
former are returned to the Bureau to be mace-
rated, for which purpose special machines are
used.

(®)>o<(®)

284

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

philatelic Qossip,

-H£<-

The Coming Season.

According to Mr. Castle, who is a
pretty shrewd prophet, the coining
season will, like its predecessors, be one
of advancing prices. He testifies, from
recent Continental experience, to a rush
for the better class of Europeans — includ-
ing Scandanavians. It is an open secret
that Scandanavians are to be advanced
in price shortly, and to have added to
their list several varieties hitherto un-
known, or unnoticed, except to native
specialists. Mr. Castle also bears testi-
mony to a distinct revival of the interest
taken in the better class of South
American countries and the Transvaal.
The Transvaal is, no doubt, steadily
rising in the scale of popularity. But
until recent events in the Transvaal have
had time to settle, the anticipated ad-
vance in prices will probably bide its
time. Just before the troubles a strong
local demand for the early issues had set
in, and supplies were being rapidly
returned to the country of their origin,
at stiffening prices. Since the trouble
the demand has dropped off considerably.
When the troubles have been shelved,
and business resumes its course once
more, these grand old stamps will be in
further demand. Meanwhile, the oppor-
tunity is with us to pick up these trifles
at knock-out prices. Some day they
will assuredly be appreciated at their
real value.

British East Africa Stamps.

Everybody has been wondering why
we have not yet been able to gee any of
the British East Africa stamps of the
new design. At last we have an ex-
planation from Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. The sale to the public has been
stopped, and letters have to be handed
in at the post office, where the stamps
are affixed. But why ? Surely in the
case of the new and presumably settled
design there should be sufficient to supply
the demands of a public sale over the
counter in the ordinary way. We must
confess we are a bit puzzled still. With
an emergency, surcharged issue, we can
understand the necessity of restricting
the sale ; but not in the case of a per-
manent issue such as that of the new
design for British Eaist Africa.

Epidemic of Secret Dots.

There is quite a serious epidemic of
" Secret Dots." It broke out first in a
somewhat virulent form in a fortnightly
paper, published for the dissemination of
brotherly love, then it crossed the herring
pond, from thence it travelled to the far
East, reappearing in the shape of dis
coveries of secret dots in Brazilians, and
now it returns to this country in the
form of discoveries in Chilians. By and
bye, we shall ask of every stamp, where
is the Secret Dot ?

Decrease of Good Specimens.

A writer in Filateh'c Facts and Fancies
draws attention to the continual decrease
of good specimens which goes on. He
was reminded of this by the fact that
he, though a most careful collector, had
just damaged two valuable stamps in
transferring his collection from one album
to another. Two years ago Mr. Castle
drew attention to the same thing.
He asserted then that the collector who
has never had a mishap or loss with any
stamp is lucky indeed. As the years roll
by, and what Mr. Castle aptly termed the
"shrinkage of rarities" goes on, this
shrinkage by accidental handling will
gather importance as a disagreeable
factor in the rise of prices. When we
note the clumsy manner in which some
collectors handle their gems, and consider
the numberless risks of damage that rare
stamps have to pass through from dealer
to collector, thence to auction, thence on
another round of dealers' stock books, to
be thumbed by collector after collector,
it seems little short of a marvel that we
have so many fine specimens of forty-
year-old stamps as we have.

The U.S. Boy's Paper.

We have not yet received the first
number of this new paper that is to wake
up the interest of the boy collector in
postage stamps in the United States ; but
from the notices that have appeared in
some of our American contemporaries we
gather that it will be largely devoted to
the encouragement of the collection of
commemorative rubbish. The editor who
has been appointed certainly holds
peculiar views in that diiection.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

285

Those Terrible Tongas.

There seem to be two sides to every
statement about Tongan stamps. One
day we have the most circumstantial
evidence of a speculative issue ; the next
day the so-called speculatives are white-
washed with exhaustive vigour. In fact
it may truly be said that in all that
relates to Tongan stamps "You never
know where you are." One day we are
certain that the place must be exclusively
peopled by wicked stamp speculators ;
the next day we are convinced that it can
be none other than the favourite resi-
dence of the Saints. The latest protest
of its purity comes from Mr. Campbell,
chief postmaster of Tonga. He writes
to the Monthly Journal as follows : —

I would like you to bear in mind that Tongan
stamps are not issued for speculation. There is
not a single postmaster allowed any commis-
sion for the sale of stamps, and neither am I.
Therefore my salary would just he the same
whether the sale of stamps amounted to £5 or
£500. I simply execute foreign orders as a
matter of courtesy, and because it slightly
increases the returns of my department. 1 am
open to admit that the recent issues of stamps
are very far from what they ought to be. But
having no other stamps to go on with we were
compelled to put them in circulation to meet
the public convenience.

U.S. Post Offices.

An official report recently issued by the
Post Office Department at Washington,
U.S., shows that 70,360 post offices were
in existence on June 30th. During the
year 1750 offices had been removed from
the list and 2040 added. Missisippi and
Georgia show the largest gains, 83 and
54 ; whilst the greatest loss was 23 in
West Virginia. The number of complaints
received by the department during the
year was 108.037, including 16,563 relat-
ing to foreign mail. The number of
registered packets handled was 13,851,000,
of which only one in 16,254 was lost. The

arrest or killing of a number of the most
prominent outlaws in the Middle West,
and the breaking up of several of the
worst gangs of bandits that ever existed
in the country have led to a pronounced
decrease in number of train and stage
robberies and of post office burglaries.
There were 2074 arrests during the year
for offences against the postal laws, 842
of the prisoners belonging to the service.

Philatelic Society Lotteries.

Here is a wrinkle for those Philatelic
Societies that find it hard to get up a
programme sufficiently attractive to
ensure a good attendance at their re-
gular meetings. It comes from far East,
from India, in fact, through the sober
columns of the Quarterly Philatelic
Circular, and refers to the Bombay
Philatelic Society.

A novel feature was inaugurated at the last
meeting of the Society, constituting a source
of a good deal of merriment and amusement.
Each member supplied a packet of stamps, and
a Grand Stamp Lottery was held. Some
people got good prizes, while others, of course,
had to do with ordinary ones. It is believed
that a lottery of this kind will become a
permanent monthly fixture.

Specialising Chilians.

In the last issue of the Philatelists1
Supplement to the "Bazaar" (Oct. 14th),
Mr. Slade returns to his favourite topic
of specialising Chilians. After the ter-
rible and never-to-be-forgotten dose of
varieties of watermark which he admini-
stered in a previous number, he might
have refrained from inflicting any further
horrors upon us. But, unmerciful man.
he is at it again ! In this issue he gives
us a newly-discovered variety in an
inverted " V " in " Centavos." An
inverted letter in an engraving of a steel
die ! Mr. Slade had better keep that
sort of philatelic information for the
Horse Marines.

286

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

forgeries and Reprints.

Reprints of Victoria.

Has Postmaster Cook, of New South
Wales reprint notoriety, been transferred
to Victoria ? Anyway, the following
statement by Mr. C. J. Phillips, in the
Monthly Journal, seems to point to the
necessity of a searching investigation by
the authorities to put an end to another
obvious swindle.

We have received a communication from
a first-rate authority in Australia, that some
reprints of various issues of old Victorian
stamps have lately been put on the market,
without any distinguishing overprint, such as
the word " Keprint " or ," Specimen," which
has been used on former occasions. "We also
hear that a certain Swedish collector, coming
from Melbourne, will be likely to offer these
stamps in England within a short time ; the
stamps may be described by him as remainders,
but they are actually reprints, as any remainders
there were have been destroyed. We think
that the Victorian postal authorities are to be
severely condemned for allowing this to take
place. It is only about twelve months ago
that the Philatelic Society of Victoria brought
under the notice of the Postmaster-General the
issue of reprints of their colony. A promise
was then made that no further supply should be
printed without some distinguishing mark, but,
by the connivance of someone in the Post
Office, they are still being put on the market in
that Colony ; and from Melbourne, of course,
by degrees they get to London and the Conti-
nent. The stamps reprinted are the following,
and have the same watermark, perforation, etc.,
as the originals :—

1885. 4d., carmine, surcharged " Stamp

duty," our number 197.
„ Is., blue, surcharged" Stamp duty,"
our number 198.

1886. id. grey, our number 200.
1888. ls.^Gd., blue, our number 203.
1892. Id., carmine, envelope, our num-
ber 638.

We are also informed that it is possible that
the 9d. red-brown, on rough paper, watermark
V and Crown, and also the Id. -+- Id., brown,
envelope have been reprinted, but our informant
is not sure on this point.

Brazil, 1894 Issue.

The Illustrirte Briefmarhen Zeitung
(Leipzig) warns collectors to be very
careful when acquiring the present issue
with inverted centre. The police at Eio
are investigating the matter, and have
traced the manufacture of the same.

Tuscany 60 Crazie.

The Berliner Briefmarhen Zeitung an-
nounces a forgery of the 60 crazie of
Tuscany, 1851, as follows: —

It is made out of the 9 crazie by erasing the
9 and replacing the same by the figure 00.
The best way to recognise the forgery is to
measure the word " crazie,' ' which is 9 mm long-
in the genuine 60 crazie stamp and 10} mm. in
the 9 crazie stamp.

England : Levant 40 Paras.

The Austrian Philatelist (Prague) has
seen forgeries of the English Levant
stamp of 40 paras on 2^d lilac.

The forged surcharge can be easily seen, as
the 4 of 40 has a horizontal stroke at the bottom,
the space in the head of the 4 is too small, and
the s of Paras is reversed, i.e., the larger half
is at the top. Besides, all the used forgeries
have English cancellations.

Mexico 1866 Issue, 50c.

From the Austrian Philatelist (Prague)
we take the following description of a
very good forgery of the 50c. 1866 issue,
with head of the Emperor Maximilian.

This forgery is so good that no doubt many
collectors will be taken in. The whole execution
is good, only the beard is rather too long.
The inscriptions are rather too thin, making
them appear longer than in the genuine. So
far, only unused specimens have been found.

Portugal, 1st Issue, 1853.

The Portuguese Philatelist has the fol-
lowiDg highly instructive notice about
these stamps :

The extreme rarity of some values in the un-
used state has induced some dealers to bring
their chemical knowledge to bear on the stamps
of this issue, with the result, that lately quite a
number of unused Dona Maria stamps of 50
and 100 Eeis, which formerly were nearly un-
attainable, have been offered to the public.

Up to now these have been offered at mode-
rate prices to collectors and dealers, who, at high
prices, would not buy.

These two values have been used very largely
for the stamping of judicial papers, and are now
looked for in all the archives. They are always
cancelled with pen or pencil strokes, and some
of them very lightly. Even strips and blocks
up to 6 have been found. The modus operandi
is to take them off the paper as carefully as
possible, taking care not to wash all the original
gum off, then the ink is removed chemically,
and lo and behold a high-prized and much-
looked-for stamp is the result.

CORRESPONDENCE.

287

(^OTTOS^OTldoTlCO .

Norway 1 ore : Varieties.

Dear Sir, — I take the opportunity of
pointing out a few errors in the article on
" Norway 1 ore : Varieties," in the August
number (p 226), to hand to-day :

1st Variety, 1877 issue— Shaded all round
posthorn. Perf. 14J by 13£ ; not 13 J as stated.

2nd Variety — Not only colour modified, but
whole stamp, the posthorn being unshaded.
Perf.- still 14J by 13J; not 13J. This stamp
shows curious varieties of '*N " in Norge, some
being like Z sideways.

3rd Variety— Perf. 14J by 13$; not 13^.
Serif and foot stroke of small " 1 " often
invisible.

4th Variety — All lettering in ornamental
capitals. Perf. 13J by 12$. Many of this
issue have appeared also perf. 14J by 13|
Doubtless the 1 (ire will too, sooner or later.

Yours faithfully,

Hubert Buckley.
Christiana,

1th September, 1896.

A Permanent Printed Album.

Dear Sir, — I have read your article on the
" Permanent Printed Album " in your August
issue with great satisfaction, and agree with
you that " the general collector sorely needs
freedom of choice in the arrangement of his
stamps."

May I suggest the following simple and
economical idea as supplemental to that set
forth by you.

Let publishers issue plain quadrille - lined
leaves of suitable size, shape, and quality at so
much per dozen, prepared for binding in either
fixed or moveable covers, as the purchaser may
choose. The catalogue should be prepared
separately and sold in books, the leaves of
which consisted of lists in perforated columns,
which could be detached aud hinged neatly at
the side of the page in the prepared marginal
space, so as to turn with the page.

These lists (each a portion of a country's
catalogue) need not be illustrated, and so their
cost should not be excessive. They could be
published up-to-date, say, once a year, and a
collector could, on the appearance of each new
edition, substitute it for the previous one
already hinged in his albums.

If carefully thought out, scientifically pre-
pared, neatly printed and arranged with a view
to the artistic treatment of a page, and so as to
provide for, say, twenty stamps on a page
large enough to hold, say, thirty, I am con-
vinced such slip catalogues would become very
popular.

Yours faithfully,

"WlLMOT CORFIELD.

Calcutta,

22nd September, 1896-

Nova Scotia Cents Issue, 1860.

Dear Sir, — In the Leisure Sour for August
1st. 1863, there is an illustrated article on
" Pare and Curious Postage Stamps." The
writer refers to those of Nova Scotia as follows :
— " The most beautiful stamp is the Nova
Scotian twelve and a-half cents, manufactured
in the United States, and universally called the
Queen of Stamps. A recent number of a well-
known Belgian newspaper says of it, 'Never,
perhaps, has the engraver's art created aught
more lovely in so circumscribed a space, and it
is only to be regretted that this little master-
piece must ever be outraged by the cancelling
mark.' *'

At the present moment, when the majority of
philatelists are talking of the remarkable find, I
thought the above would be interesting to your
readers.

Yours faithfully,

W. H. Earl.
Newcastle, Staffs.,

19th October, 1896.

Congo State Stamp Speculation.

Dear Sir, —Seeing a remark about Congo
stamps on page 2ol ot your September number,
you may allow me a few words about these
stamps.

In the Hrst place, it is a fact that the Co igo
Free State has always— since its foundation —
made enormous speculations with poststamps
and postcards, and the revenue out of it is cer-
tainly reaching fifty thousand francs a year.

To show it clearly. I may say that you need
only call at the Brussels offices and you can get
stamps and postcards, used or unused, Just as
you like it. If you show some preference for
anniversary— you can have it. The same with
Bonia and for certain dates — as for instance, your
Banana, Matadi, etc., etc. You understand
that these stamps have never seen the big
" Congo Free State.*'

A fine speculation was made with the 1894
5-cent. blue and 10-cent. brown-red. The whole
stock was sold to a dealer with promise to
change the colour with the new edition. this is
done, and of 100,000 of the o-cent. blue value
not a single one has seen the Congo River. It is
not worth while sending them over as all are
stamped in Brussels " to order."

You may be assured it is the same with the
5 and 10-franc values and the 50-centimes grey,
the so-called "error"! Every child knows
that the Congo State needs money, and there is
no difference from Seebeck States. You know
the old proverb : " Make money if you can
honestly," etc., etc.

Yours truly,

Theodore Heiges.

Paris,

11th Oct., 1896.

288

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Rotable Stamps at Ruction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk

£ s. d,
BUHL & Co.,

iSt/i August, 1896.
Naples, \\.. blue, arms, on

entire newspaper ... 17 10 o
St. Lucia (40!.) blue, star* 440
Spain, 12 cuartos red and
blue, imperf., inverted
centre, cracked across 500
Wi September, 1896.
Cape of Good Hope, 6d.
lilac, triangular, block
of four, with gum, but
slightly stained* ... 5 17 6
Ceylon. 40!. rose, imperf.,
torn one side, good

margins 900

8d. brown, star, perf.*... 880
2s. blue, imperf., slight

defect, fine margins ...500
India, Ja. red, pair, with

bottom margin ... 13 10 o

Mauritius, post paid, id.,

medium early, on entire 12 10 o
Natal,y?r^/ issue. 9d. blue,
unevenly cut (26 by
32mm. ) ... ...500

Nevis, 6d. litho, slight

stain* ... ... ...900

■21st and 22nd September, 1896.
Baden, perf., 13J, 3k.*" ...480
Brunswick, 1st issue, 2Sg.*

(no gum) ... ...400

Bulgaria, error, 5s. carmine

on flesh* ... ...770

Meek. Schwerin, 4 - 4s.,

pair, rouletted ...950

Naples, Arms, \t. blue ... 15 o o

,, Cross, Jt. blue ^5 5s. & 4 10 o

01denbury,2nd issue, 1/3 gr. 5 10 o

Basle, 2^r.* ... ... 5 10 o

,, 2^r. each ... ... 4 15 o

Zurich, 4r. ... ,£15 and 10 10 o

B. E. A. on Company's
stamps. Complete set,
•Ja. to 5r. ... ... 10 10 o

Gold Coast, C. A., id blue* 900

Lagos, 5s blue* 7 10 o

Mauritius, Greek border,

id.* 650

British Guiana, 1851, ic.

magenta ... ... 5 10 o

Ditto, 1862, 2C. grapes... 880

St Lucia, 1884 is. orange* 476

Ditto, is. orange (used) 440

CHEVELEY &. Co.

■jth September, 1896.
Geneva envelope, smallest

size, used, entire ... 12 o o
St. Vincent, star 5s.,

defective ... ... 500

28t/i September, 18c

Geneva, 10c, severed but

rejoined*
Vaud, 4c, cut at top
Tuscany, 60c.
Wurtemburg, 1st issue,

gk.* (no gum;
Mauritius, 1848, id., very

early
Ditto, small fillet, 2d.,

pair* ...
Ditto, Greek border, id *
Sierra Leone, C. C ,

1 PFNNY on ijd.*...
S. Australia, 6d., perf. by

roul., pair*

Newfoundlaud, 6gd. car-
mine, used

Ditto, 6Jd. carmine
Ditto, 6d. orange*
N. Brunswick, 6d +2- 3d.
St Christopher, C A., 4d.,

blue*

12 o o

15 o o
II 00
900
500

PUTTICK &. SIMPSON.

29^ and 2,0th September, 1896.
Great Britain, id. plate

numbers complete* ...600
Spain, 1852, 2r., pair ... 20 10 o

Basle., 2^r 600

Zurich, 4r. ... ... ... 19 o o

Tuscany, 60c. ... ... 10 10 o

Ceylon, 6d. on bleute* ... 5 10 o
Hong Kong. 96c. yellow* 600
Cape, wood block, dark

blue 4 17 6

Mauritius, large fillet, 2d. 14 10 o
Canada, -]\d. green*

,£15 10s and 7 15 o
Ditto, iod blue, thick

paper, pair* 26 15 o

Ditto, single copy* ... 9 10 o
Ditto, perf., 6d. violet-
black, pair* 29 10 o

Ditto, single copy* .. 12 10 o
New Brunswick, Connell* 10 10 o
Nova Scotia, is. red-violet 10 5 o
Barbados, id.on-g 5s., pair 24 o o
Barbados, id on 4d. in

black and in red, pair* 750
Dominica, C.A., is.* ...300
Nevis, perf. 15, is. yellow-
green* ... ... ... 18 o o

Ditto, litho, is., sheet
of 12* ... ... ... 23 o o

Ditto, 6d. green* ... 8 2 6

St. Christopher, C.A., 4d.

blue* 5 10 o

St. Vincent, first issue, id.,

pair, imperf.*... ...350

Ditto, star. is. vermilion,

large perf* 5 5 o

St. Vincent, 4d on is.* ...

Trinidad, pin perf., id.

rose-red*

Ditto, 4d., grey-lilac* ...

Ditto, 6d. green-

Turks, 2^d. on id., 1873,

pair, types 6 and 7*...

Virgin Isles, perf 15, 6d.

rose* ...

Ditto, 6d. used

British Guiana, 1862, ic.

entire sheet, unsigned

remainders*

N. Caledonia, first issue,

entire sheet* ...

Sydney, plate 2, 2d.,

CREVIT omitted ...

New Zealand, blue paper,

id.* ... _

Westralia, first issue, 4d.

block of 40* ...

VENTOM, BULL X COOPER.

24^/z and 25th September, 1896.
Oldenburg, second issue,

1/3Sr-* 5 15 o

Saxony, 3pf. red 4 T5 o

India, Service, 4a. pro-
visional, strip of 4 ;

jja., ditto, pair ; 2a.,

small surcharge, 4a.,

green, ditto, a pair ; all

on piece of original ... 20 o o
Cape woodblock, error, 4d.

red, slightly damaged 24 o o
Lagos, C.C , perf. 13, 3d.,

6d., is., all* 800

Ditto, 5s. blue, used ... 6 17 6
Reunion, 30c, on entire,

but unused ... ... 68 o o

Ditto, pen cancelled ... 68 o o
U.S., 90c. blue, with grill* 660
Newfoundland, is. orange 12 10 o
Barbados, id. on £ 5s.,

pair* ... ... ...105 o o

British Guiana, first issue,

4c. on orange, cut to

shape ... ... ... 16 o o

Ditto, 1862, ic, balls ... 7 7 o
Dominica, C.A., is., pair* 500
Nevis, litho, 4d.* ... ... 14 o o

Ditto, 6d. pair* 28 10 o

Trinidad, perf. 13, 6d.

emerald* ... ... 500

Virgin Isles, double lined

border, is.* 4 17 6

Sydney, plate 2, 2d.* ... 8 15 o
Queensland, i860, 2d.,

rough perf. , imperf.

horizontally* ... ... 9 10 o

Victoria. 5s. blue on yellow,

£4. 10s. and 3 10 o

CHARLES JONES. PR INTER. L

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News.

NOVEMBER, 1896.

Qditorial J^otes.

N another page we publish in full the Prospectus of the Philatelic
Exhibition which is to be held in London next year. It is a very
comprehensive document, and may be taken as an earnest of
the thoroughness with which the work is being carried out, even
in the matter of preliminaries.

The Exhibition will be held at the Galleries of the Royal
Institution of Painters in Water Colours, in Piccadilly. It will be opened on
the 22nd July, and will remain open until the 5th of August ; that is to say, it
will be kept open for fifteen days. The charge for space to exhibitors will be
3d. per square foot, and the insurance will be at the rate of
London 2s. 6d. for each ^~ioo insured. No special size of cards is
Philatelic obligatory, but the Committee hope that collectors will, as far
Exhibition, as possible, send in their exhibits mounted on cards of the
1897. following sizes: — 10 inches in height by 8 inches or 12 inches

in width, or 15 inches in height by 12 inches in width. Exhi-
bitors may not publicly price their exhibits for sale, but arrangements will be
made for facilitating sales through the Secretary at the nominal charge of 5 per
cent. In the matter of classification a more rational system of grouping has
been followed than in previous exhibitions. Hitherto it has been the practice
to group countries for competition against each other solely on the basis of
their relative philatelic value. In next year's Exhibition consideration will be
paid both to geographical and political relation. Thus : Class 2, division 1,
includes the various possessions of the British Empire ; division 2, the countries
and States of Europe ; division 3, Asia and Africa, excluding British posses-
sions ; and so on. In order to preserve as much uniformity of value as possible,
each division is further sub-divided.

Even the young collector is not forgotten in the arrangements. For his
special encouragement the Philatelic Society of London will give two prizes
for the best collections shown by any exhibitors under the age of 16 years.

The medals offered for competition are on the most liberal scale. In the
regular classes 13 gold, 43 silver, and 48 bronze medals, making in all 104
medals are offered for competition. In addition to these there are special
prizes, which includes 7 gold, 16 silver, and 7 bronze medals. Add to all these
attractions the fact that the Exhibition will be held under the royal and kindly
patronage of H.R.H. the Duke of York, and the official countenance of His

290 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Grace the Duke of Norfolk, as Postmaster-General, and it will be admitted
that the London Philatelic Exhibition of 1897 already bids fair to make next
year a red-letter year in the annals of Philately.

The Financial News tells us that " one of the most interesting

Labuans for features about the Colony of Labuan, is the fact that last year

Philatelists. tne Postal Revenue increased by $3,710 to $8,199, through the

demands of stamp collectors." And it adds, " so long as the

crazy enthusiasts, who dub themselves philatelists, are content to buy stamps

right and left, it is well that poor States and Colonies should make something

out of the eccentricity."

Can we wonder at sneers when collectors buy such trash as current Labuans
which are obviously made solely for sale to collectors. The Colony now forms
part of North Borneo, and is governed by the North Borneo Company, and
there is not the slightest excuse for the use of a separate set of postage
stamps. Yet separate sets are made by surcharging the gaudy rubbish of the
North Borneo Company with the word " Labuan," and while collectors are
foolish enough to buy such worthless and unnecessary trash they must expect
sneers even from low-class City rags.

There was a time when the stamps of Labuan were much prized by
collectors. They were then issued in numbers commensurate with a genuine
postal demand. Now the issue of Labuan stamps has little or no relation to
genuine postal demand, and have consequently fallen as low in general
philatelic estimation as the issues of the governing Company. The remedy,
however, is simple. Philatelists should limit their attention to the engraved
series, and leave the lithographs and subsequent issues under the North
Borneo Company severely alone.

. The International Stamp has been charging the Scott Stamp

^Value"1 anc^ Coin Co. with basing the prices of their 57th Catalogue
upon the number of stamps in their stock, and not regulating
them by the relative rarity and value of the stamps listed. To this the Scott
Stamp and Coin Co. reply: — "As to your statement in regard to the used
Department stamps, we are fully in accord with you in your opinion that the
used stamps of most varieties are far rarer than the unused, but rarity alone
does not establish a market value, as this is dependent in a far greater degree
upon the demand than upon the supply. Many collectors, probably 99 per
cent., prefer an unused specimen to a used one, and hence the price for the
unused stamp is apt to rise far out of proportion to its rarity in comparison
with the used stamp."

Theoretically, of course, the value of a stamp should depend upon its
relative rarity. But this theoretical idea of the value of a stamp is a very
superficial one; other and more powerful factors dominate the market value of
a stamp. First comes the law of supply and demand — of some stamps a
thousand copies would be a glut ; of others, the limitation to a thousand copies
would lead to sensational figures. Then again, the collectability of a country
counts for something. If the country is an uninteresting one, historically and
postally, its issues do not count for much.

But the question more immediately raised against the Scott Stamp and
Coin Co. is, that they price used stamps at a lower rate than unused, despite
the fact that the used are admittedly scarcer. The reply to this is unanswer-
able : " Many collectors, probably 99 per cent., prefer an unused specimen to
a used one." And there can be no question that the preference for unused is
an important and growing factor in the stamp business, and naturally so, for
an unused stamp is a matter of pristine condition.

THE STAMPS OF EGYPT 291

^ko Stamps cf Qgiflpt.

By G. B. Duerst.

(Continued from page 274.J

IV. Issue. April 1, 1879.

HE new design issued on the 1st of April was heralded in the fol-
lowing Decree. It will be noted that stamps of the old design
had their period of use generously extended to the 31st October,
after which they could be exchanged for stamps of equal value of
the new issue till the end of the year, when they were finally
demonetised.

Decree.

The Postmaster -General has the honour to inform the public that the postage stamps at present
in use will he replaced by postage stamps of a new design, which will be put into circulation on
the 1st of April, 1879.

The postage stamps at present in use will continue to serve either by themselves or in con-
junction with those of the new issue, for the franking of correspondence until the 31st of October
next. From that date they cease to be accepted as payment for any postal matter whatever.

From the 31st of October to the 31st of December, 1879, all post offices are authorised to
exchange the present postage stamps against others of equal value of the new issue. After
that time they will not be accepted at all.

The new issue will consist of the following postage stamps: —

5 paras, brown.
10 „ light violet.
•20 _ „ blue.

I piastre, rose.

2 piastres, orange.

5 „ green.

Alexandria, 20th of March, 1879,

The design consists of pyramid and sphinx in an oval surrounded by various
frames. The Italian inscriptions have given place to French inscriptions in
the left and top labels ; the other two labels still contain Arabic inscriptions.
The bottom label reads : " Posta Masrie " or Egyptian post ; the right label
contains the value in Arabic. The value in Arabic and figures are in the four
corners.

They are engraved in taille-douce, and printed in colour by De la Rue &
Co. on white wove paper, watermarked with crescent and five-pointed star.
Perforated 14. The gum is at first yellowish, later on white.

(94). — 5 paras, dark brown.

(95). — 10 // lilac, pale to deep.

(96). — 20 a blue.

(97). — 1 piastre, rose, pale rose.

(98). — 2 piastres, orange, pale to deep.

(99). — 5 // green, bright green.

All these are found with watermark inverted.
The following, imperforate, are unofficial :

5 paras, dark brown.
10 11 lilac.

20 » blue.

1 piastre, rose.

2 piastres, orange.
5 // green.

292 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

The colour of the 10 para stamp was changed in January, 1881, to red-violet.
Perf. 14.

(100). — 10 paras, red-violet.

I have never seen this stamp without watermark inverted.

7 and 10 piastre stamps were printed, as the Egyptian post office thought
of instituting a parcel post service, but were not issued.

Again the colour of 10 paras stamp was changed, this time to French grey.
Perf. 14. 25th January, 1882.

(101). — 10 paras, French grey.

This stamp with inverted watermark is very scarce.

Feb. 1st, 1884. — Running out of 20 paras stamps the post office decided to
surcharge 4000 sheets of 5 piastres stamps.

The surcharge consists of a big 20 with PARAS on the right, and value in
Arabic on the left hand side, the old values in the four corners being crossed
out. This surcharge was printed in black in the Government office at Cairo.

(102). — 20 paras on 5 piastres, green.

I believe this stamp with watermark inverted to be the rarest Egyptian
stamp.

By mistake 12 sheets were printed with reversed surcharge, all of these
were bought by an official, who sold them to dealers, used as well as unused.

(103). — 20 paras on 5 piastres, green. Surcharge inverted.

V. Issue. December 15,

At the end of 1884 the colours of the different values were changed, other-
wise they were printed from the same plates. Perforated 14. They are found
with white and yellowish gum. Dec. 15, 1884.

(104). — 10 paras, green, pale green.
(105). — 20 it carmine, pale carmine.

(106). — 1 piastre, blue, pale blue.

(107). — 2 piastres, brown orange.
(108). — 5 // grey (loose colour).

1885.— 5 piastres, grey (fast colour).

VI. Issue. January is/, i<

The coinage of the country was changed at the beginning of 1888 from
1 £ E gold = 100 piastres to 1 £ E = 1000 milliemes. In consequence new
stamps bearing the new value and new plates were prepared slightly differing
in the central design. The sphinx is now a little more to the left in the inner
oval. The French inscriptions are now in the left hand side and the top labels,
the remaining two labels being filled with Arabic inscriptions. Perforated 14 ;
white gum, &c. ; watermarked with a crescent and a five-pointed star. All
exist with watermark inverted.

The decree for this issue appeared as follows : —

From the 1st of next January the present stamps of 5 and 10 paras will be replaced by new
stamps of 1 and 2 milliemes. in consequence all stamps of 5 and 10 paras will be replaced by
such of 1 and 2 milliemes in all post offices.

None of these new stamps have to be sold before the first day of the year, and no more
5 and 10 para stamps must be sold from the same date All the remainders in stock at this
date must be returned to the General Post Office, and full credit will be given to each office.

A new stamp of 5 milliemes will also be put in circulation at the beginning of the year
to replace the 20 para stamps. As, however, a considerable stock of 20 para stamps is still
at the different post offices, the new stamps will not be supplied until the stocks are used up.

Later on instructions will be given to the different post offices concerning the time the
present stamps can still be used.

Alexandria, December, 1887.

THE STAMPS OF EGYPT. 293

On the 2 1 st of March, 1888, it was decreed that the stamps of the last issue
could be used until the 31st of October of that year.

The stamps were printed in London by De la Rue & Co.

This firm added the Jubilee line in the same way as they had done in the
case of the stamps for Great Britain and some of the Colonies. Jan. 1st, 1888.

(iog). — 1 millieme, chocolate brown,
(no). — 2 milliemes, green.

March 1st, 1888. — Same type as before. Perforated 14.
(in). — 5 milliemes, carmine.

Jan. 1st, 1889. — Similar type, but the four corners filled in with stars.
Perforated 14. White gum.

(112). — 10 piastres, bright violet.

On the 1 st of March, 1890, the postage for inland letters was reduced from
1 piastre to 5 milliemes.

The decree for this reduction is as follows : —

1. — The rate for letters within Egypt will be reduced to 5 millierues in case of franked
letters, and double in the contrary case for every letter and for every 15 grammes or part
thereof.

2. — The present decree will come into force on the 1st of March, 1890.

3, — Our Chancellor of the Exchequer will be charged with the execution of this decree.

Mehemet Teufik.

Cairo, January 25th, 1890.

The foreign postage remained at 1 piastre for each single letter.

On the 1st of January, 1892, the postage for letters posted and delivered in
the same town was reduced from 5 milliemes to 3 milliemes. A new stamp
was therefore required for this value.

Jan 1st, 1892 — Similar in type. Perforated 14.

(113). — 3 milliemes, puce.

From the beginning of 1893 a special stamp was issued to frank official
correspondence. Similar in style to the present issue, but instead of the
Pyramid and the Sphinx the inner oval is filled with the words " Service of the
State" in French and Arabic. Perforated 14, and printed on white wove
paper, watermarked with crescent and a five-pointed star.

(114). — No value, brown-orange.

The following official decree was published on the 10th of July, 1893 : —

From the 1st of August next the post offices will cease to sell the stamps of 3 milliemes and
of 2 piastres of the present issue. At this date stamps of the same value will be issued, the
3 milliemes will be in yellow, and the 2 piastres in brown orange.

Aug. 1st, 1893. — Same type. Perforated 14.

(115). — 3 milliemes, yellow.
(116). — 2 piastres, brown-orange.

Unpaid Letter Stamps.

I. Issue. Februaty isf, 1884.

Large figures of value in the centre, Paras, Piastre resp. Piastres on the
left, and the word "Tarif" on the right, the whole enclosed in a double
rectangle. The inscription on the left hand side is " Postes Egyptiennes," on
the right the same in Arabic ; at the top "a Percevoir," and at the bottom
value in Arabic. Printed in sheets of 100 stamps on medium thick white wove
paper, impressed with crescent and five-pointed star. Perforated 10 J. White

294 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

(i).— 10 paras, vermilion.

(2). — 20 // //

(3). — 1 piastre //

(4). — 2 piastres u

(5).— 5 "

Only 150,000 were printed, and of this number 70,000 were 2 piastre
stamps.

II. Issue. August 1st, 1886.

Same as last issue, but printed on un watermarked paper. Perforated 10^.

(6). — 10 paras, vermilion.
(7). — 20 11 1/

(8). — 1 piastre u
(9). — 2 piastres 0

III. Issue. January 1st, 1888.

In consequence of the change in the coinage the decree of December, 1887,
also deals with the unpaid letter stamps, and announces a new set.

The type is exactly the same as in the last issue, but the inscriptions in the
inner rectangle are altered to Milliemes and Piastres at both sides. The Arabic
inscription of the value at the bottom is consequently also altered. Printed in
sheets of 100 stamps on white wove, not watermarked paper. Perforated 1 1 \.

(10). — 2 milliemes, green.

(11). — 5 // rose.

(12). — 1 piastre, blue.

(13). — 2 piastres, yellow orange.

(14). — 5 ft grey. I. Type with full stop after piastres.

(15). — 5 11 11 II. Type without 11 11

IV. Issue. 1889.

New type. Large numeral of value with Milliemes, Piastre resp. Piastres
on the left and right hand side in an oval. The whole in a double rectangular
frame. The inscription on the left hand side is "Egyptian Post" in Arabic, on
the right " Postes Egyptiennes " in French ; at the top value in Arabic, and at
the bottom " A Percevoir."

Printed by De la Rue & Co. on white wove paper, watermarked with crescent
and five-pointed star. Perforated 14.

(16). — 2 milliemes, green.
(17). — 4 11 puce.

(18). — 1 piastre, blue.
(19). — 2 piastres, orange.

(Concluded.)

THE STAMPS OF SELANGOR. 295.

Stamps of £>olarigor.

By our Pahang Correspondent.

N 1878 the first stamps were issued in Selangor. They were surcharged
with the star and crescent and the letter S in an oval, on the Straits
2 cents brown. The watermark is a Crown and C.C. The surcharge
was black. They are exceedingly rare. A later issue of these stamps,
with a red surcharge and watermark Crown and C.A., is supposed to
have taken place in 1882. It is, however, improbable that any such
issue ever occurred, seeing that in 1881 the horizontal surcharge of the word
"Selangor" on the 2 cents brown, without the star and crescent, was intro-
duced. The watermark was a Crown and C.C. In 1883 the 2 cents brown
stamp, with watermark, a Crown and C.A. was surcharged with a big letter
" S " and a full stop after it.

From then till now all watermarks have been C.A., and, with the following
exceptions, the surcharges have always been the word " Selangor " printed
horizontally on 2 cents rose stamps. In 1889 a vertical surcharge — two different
capital types, one large Roman and the other italics — were used in printing
the word "Selangor." In 1891 there were issued 6000 stamps bearing a
horizontal surcharge "Selangor two cents" on 24 cents green. There were
in each row of ten stamps five distinct surcharges. These stamps were issued
owing to a delay in the supply of Selangor "tiger" stamps ordered from the
Crown Agents. They have reached a higher value than have the similar sur-
charges of the other states, and are practically unobtainable in the Straits and
Native States. During 1891 the tiger stamps were issued. At first the

2 cents, rose coloured, was the only stamp printed. Afterwards 1 cent, green,
and 5 cents, blue, were obtained. Still later, a 5 cents, rose, stamp sucharged

3 cents has been issued (368,000 of them), and the 2 cents stamp has been
altered to yellow.

-^=4-Q$sHr=*-

^eath of £>ir ^oioland fill's ^r other.

R. FREDERIC HILL, the last surviving brother of Sir Rowland
Hill, the postal reformer, died on Tuesday evening at his residence
at Hampstead, in his 94th year. He was born in Birmingham,
and assisted his brother until 1833 in carrying on the well-known
Hazlewood School. Subsequently he became one of the first
Inspectors of Prisons under the Home Office, being assigned
the District comprising Scotland, Northumberland, and Durham. He
afterwards held office as an Assistant-Secretary in the Post Office, and
retired on a pension in 1876. A few years ago he published his
reminiscences.

2g6

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

London philatelic Qxhihition, 1892.

Patrons.

H.R.H. THE DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA, DUKE OF EDINBURGH, K.G.,

H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK, K.G.,

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NORFOLK, K.G. (HER MAJESTY'S POSTMASTER-GENERAL).

Members of the Council of the
Philatelic Society, London —
E. D. bacon

C. N. BIGGS

M. P. CASTLE (Vice-President)
R. Ehrknbach
Major E. B. EVANS

D. Garth

t. wickham Jones

t. maycock

H. R. Oldfield

R. Pearce

J. A. TILLEARD (Hon. Sec.)

Birmingham Philatelic Society—

W. T. Wilson (President)
G. Johnson (Hon. Sec.)

Bradford Philatelic Society —

O. Firth (President)
W. H. SCOTT (Hon. Sec.)

J. H. Abbott
W. B. Avery
A. R. Barrett
F. G. Bepler
W. W. Blest
P. M. Bright

D. Brosnan
W. Brown
t. Buhl

e. Clarke
h. J. Duveen

H. L'ESTRANGE EWEN
M. GIWELB

E. s. Gibbons

F. R. GiNN

S. E. GWYER
W. HADLOW

Committee.

Brighton Philatelic Society—
Baron A. De Worms (Hon. Sec.)

Cambridge University Philatelic
Society —

O. Browning (President)
H. D. Catling (Hon. Sec.)

Leeds Philatelic Society —

John H. Thackrah (President)
W. Denison Roebuck") Hon.
T. K. Skipwith * Sees.

Liverpool Philatelic Society —

F. B. Bradbury (President)
M. BROAD (Hon. Sec.)

Manchester Philatelic Society —

W. Dorning Beckton, President
A. H. Harrison (Hon. Sec.)

E. Hawkins
H. Hilckes
Pearson Hill
G. J. Hynes
W. R. Joynt
H. A. Kennedy
Whitfield King
C. J. Lambert
w. Lincoln
p. J. Lloyd
G. Lockyer

W. MORLEY

E. J. NANKIVELL

Lieut. F. H. Napier, R.N.

j. A. Nix

W. H. Peckitt

P. L. Pemberton

Oxford Philatelic Society—

J. A. H. MURRAY, M.A., LI

D.C.L. (President)
F. A. Bellamy (Hon. Sec.)

Plymouth Philatelic Society—

Capt. R. W. H. STOCKDALE, R.E.

(President)
W. J. M. MILLER (Hon. Sec.)

Salisbury and District Philatelic
Society —

His Honour Judge Philbrick,

Q.C. (President)
H. W. MAJOR (Hon. Sec.)

Sheffield Philatelic Society —

G. B. HUNT (President)
J. BRAMAH (Hon. Sec.)

C. J. Phillips

F. RANSOM
Rev. P. E. Raynor
T. Ridpath
Vernon Roberts
walter scott
Gordon Smith
B. T. K. Smith
J. Scott Stokes

t. H. THOMPSON

Rev. W. N. Usher

Capt. R. A. Vansittart.

Dr. C. W. Viner.

W. T. Willett

A. H. Wilson.

J. Winch

Hastings E. Wright

Executive Committee.

W. B. Avery

e. D. Bacon

W. dorning Beckton

M. P. Castle

R. Ehrenbach

E. B. Evans

M. GIWELB
S. E. GWYER
W. HADLOW

G. J. Hynes

T. Wickham Jones
T. Maycock

E. J. NANKIVELL

H. R. Oldfield
R. Pearce

W. H. peckitt
C. J. Phillips
Gordon Smith
j. a. tilleard
W. T. Wilson

Chairman of Committee.— M. P. Castle.

Treasurer.— W. B. Avery.

Secretary.— J. A. Tilleard, 4, Lombard Court, London, E.C.

(To whom all Communications should be addressed).

LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION, 1897. 297

Prospectus.

A period of nearly seven years has elapsed since the holding of the London
Philatelic Exhibition in 1890, under the auspices of the Philatelic Society, London.

During this interval very remarkable progress has been made in Philately. The
immense increase in the ranks of Philatelists, and the great interest which is now
taken in the pursuit in its more scientific aspects, justify the conclusion that the
time has arrived when an International Exhibition could advantageously be held
in the Metropolis.

It has accordingly been decided to invite Philatelists to join in the festivities of
the ensuing year in celebration of the fact that Her Gracious Majesty the Queen has
been spared to reign over her subjects for a longer period than that vouchsafed to
any previous sovereign, by organising the London Philatelic Exhibition of 1897.

The Exhibition will embrace British, Colonial, and Foreign Postage Stamps,
Envelopes, Post Cards, Newsbands, Proofs, Essays, etc., as well as Albums, Books,
and Philatelic appliances, Literature and Curiosities, and Objects of Interest in
connection with Philately and the Postal Service.

It will be opened at the GALLEEIES of the EOYAL INSTITUTION OF
PAINTEES IN WATEE COLOUES, 191, PICCADILLY, W., on Thursday, the
22nd JULY, 1897, and it is hoped that the Committee will have the hearty
co-operation of all Philatelists in their endeavour to make the undertaking a success
worthy of the occasion, and thoroughly representative of all aspects of the pursuit to
which it is devoted.

The galleries chosen have been specially constructed for the exhibition of valuable
paintings in oil and water colours, and combining as they do the advantages of
ample space, good light from above without fear of damage by exposure to the sun's
rays, security against the risk of fire, and a position in a leading central thoroughfare
in the "West End, they have been selected as the most eminently suitable place in
London for an Exhibition of Stamps.

All stamps will be exhibited under glass in locked or sealed cases ; night and day
watchmen will be employed, and every possible precaution will be taken to secure
Exhibits from damage or loss ; but no personal responsibility will be undertaken by
the Committee.

The provisions against the risk of loss by fire or theft are specially referred to in
the Eules and Eegulations set out below.

The support of philatelists throughout the world is cordially invited, and it is
hoped that the leading collectors in the British Colonies and all Foreign Countries
will, by sending Exhibits, co-operate in making the Exhibition thoroughly repre-
sentative of the best interests of Philately.

Special arrangements will be made to facilitate the passing through the Customs
of Exhibits from abroad without risk of damage, and for such examination (if any) as
may be deemed necessary being conducted in the presence of a representative of the
Committee.

The Exhibition will remain open to the public until the evening of THUESDAY,
the 5th AUGUST, 1897, and all Exhibits will be returned to the owners as soon as
possible after that date.

It will be a great convenience, and the work of the Committee, especially in the
Official Catalogue, will be considerably lightened, if intending Exhibitors will send
full particulars of their Exhibits at the earliest possible moment.

It has been decided that the Exhibition shall be subject to the following Eules
and Eegulations, of which all Exhibitors will be held to have had notice.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Rules and Regulations.

1. — Exhibits in Classes I., II., and III. must be mounted on cards, paper, or loose pages.
Although no special size of cards or other material is obligatory, it is hoped that Exhibitors who
mount their stamps specially for the exhibition, will as far as possible endeavour to assist the
Committee in securing uniformity, for the sake of economising the space at their disposal. This
object will be attained by the use of cards of the following sizes, viz. : 10 inches in height by 8
inches or 12 inches in width, or 15 inches in height by 12 inches in width, and if desired, cards
measuring 10 inches by 8 inches can be supplied on application to the Secretary, at a trifling cost.
The sizes in centimetres will be 25^ by 20£ or 30J ; or 38 by 30J.

2. — A charge for space according to the size of the exhibits, or of the cards or other material
on which they may be mounted, will be made on the following scale : —

For each square foot 3d. (minimum charge 2/6).

For each album or volume of stamps 5/-

For each volume shown in Divisions 1 and 2 of

Class VIII., and for each album or volume, &c,

shown in Class IX. 4/-

For Exhibits in Division 3 of Class VIII. for each

foot run of space occupied ]/- (minimum charge 2/6).

Arrangements have been made by the Committee for Insurance against loss by fire or theft
of Exhibits while in the custody of the Committee, either before or during the continuance of the
Exhibition, and after the close of the Exhibition until despatched for return to the owners. An
inclusive charge of 2s. 6d. will be made for each £100 insured. Owners of Exhibits desiring to
insure, and paying the prescribed amount, will have the benefit of the policy effected by the
Committee to the extent of the value at which such exhibits are accepted for Insurance, but no
personal liability is incurred by the Committee in regard to loss.

The charge for space and Insurance (if any) will be payable by the Exhibitor on sending in
his Exhibit,

All Exhibits will be returned free of charge to their owners by post or otherwise, but
transmission will in all cases be at the sole risk of the owner — Insurance in course of transit (if
any) being paid by him.

3. — Notice of the nature and extent of the Exhibits, with the value for insurance, should be
sent to the Secretary as early as possible, but not later than the 1st Map, 1897, on the
accompanying form.

4. — All Exhibits must be delivered, post or carriage paid, between the 7th and 10th July, 1897,
at such place as may be notified to the Exhibitor by the Secretary. Punctuality in delivery is
particularly desired to ensure accurate description of the Exhibits in the Official Catalogue.

5. — The right of refusing any Exhibit without assigning any reason for such refusal is reserved
by the Committee, as also the right of showing such part of any Exhibit as the Committee may
decide in case of there being insufficient space available for showing the whole.

6. — All Exhibits entered for competition must be bond fide the property of the Exhibitor.
Joint collections must be shown in the joint names, or firm name, as the case may be ; but no
combination made solely for the purposes of the Exhibition can be admitted for competition.

7. — Albums and volumes of stamps will be exhibited open at the most interesting pages, to be
varied from time to time during the Exhibition by a member of the Committee. No albums will
be allowed to be inspected (except by the Judges) without the written permission of the owner,
and at his risk, and then only in the presence of a member of the Committee.

8. — No price or other notification that it is for sale may be affixed to any Exhibit, but the
owner may intimate to the Committee his desire to sell, and arrangements will be made accordingly
to facilitate this fact and the price being made known. No Exhibit can be removed before the
close of the Exhibition, and in case of sale the price will be payable to the Committee, who will
account to the owner for the purchase-money, after deducting 5 per cent, to be applied towards the
general expenses .of the Exhibition.

9.— The Judges will be appointed by the Executive Committee, and their decision will in all
cases be final. They will be seven in number, of whom it is proposed that three at least shall be
chosen from representatives of Foreign Countries.

10. — No Exhibits by any of the Judges can be entered for competition.

11. — The following scheme of competition has been adopted by the Committee ; but all Exhibits
which the owners may desire to enter as " Not for Competition " will be so marked in the several
classes in which they may be shown. In making their awards, the Judges will be requested to
take into special consideration, not only the rarity and completeness of the Exhibit, but also the
neatness and accuracy of arrangement, method of mounting and condition of the specimens submitted
and the Philatelic knowledge displayed by the Exhibitor.

LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION, 1897,

299

Class I.

Will consist of Special Collections of Adhesive Stamps of Great Britain.

Division 1. — Adhesive Postage Stamps (including fiscals available for Postage), unused only.
" 2. — „ „ n ?J used „

„ 3. — Telegraph Stamps.

Award's in this Class. — Division 1. — One Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze Medal.
,, 2. — One Silver and 1 Bronze Medal.
3.— One „ 1

Class II.

For Special Collections of Postal Adhesive Stamps of any one of the Countries or combinations

of Countries named below : —

Division 1.

British Emtiiie, including Protectorates, etc.

British Guiana.

Cashmere and Native States of India.

New South Wales.

Awards. — One Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze Medal.

Canada, British Columbia (including Van-
couver), and Prince Edward Island.

Ceylon.

India.

Natal.

Now Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Nova
Scotia.

Aioards. — One Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze Medals.

Mauritius.
Victoria.

New Zealand.
Queensland.
£outh Australia.

Do. departmental stamps.

Tasmania.
Trinidad.
Western Australia.

Bahamas and Bermuda.

Barbadoes.

Cape of Good Hope.

Fiji Islands.

Grenada and Jamaica.

Griqualand.

Nevis.

St. Vincent and St. Lucia.

Straits Settlements and Dependencies.

Turks Islan Is.

Awards. — Two Silver and 2 Bronza ".icdals.

Any three or more of the following, or any other British possessions or protectorates not
enumerated, viz. : —

Antigua, British Bechuanaland, British East Africa, British South Africa, and British
Central Africa, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Gambia, Gibraltar, Gold Coast,
Hong Kong, Ionian Islands, Labuan, Lagos, Leeward Islands, Malta, Montserrat,
North Borneo, Oil Rivers and Niger Coast, St. Christopher, St. Helena, Seychelles.
Sierra Leone, Tobago, Virgin Islands, Zanzibar, Zululand.

Awards.— One Silver and 3 Bronze Medals.

Division 2.

Europe.
A.

Austria, Austrian Italy, and Hungary.

Germany (any three of the following)—
Baden, Bavaria, Bergedorf, Bremen, Bruns-
wick, German Confederation and Empire
(including Alsace and Lorraine), Ham-
burg, Hanover, Heligoland, Liibeck,
Mecklenburg - Schwerin and Strelitz,
Oldenburg, Prussia, Saxony, Schleswig-
Holstcin, Thurn and Taxis, Wurtcmburg.

Italy (any three of the following) —

Italy, Modena, Naples, Papal States, Parma,
Romagna, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany.
Roumania and Moldo Wallachia.
Russia, Finland, Russian Levant, and Poland.
Russian Locals, Livonia, and Wend en.
Spain.

Switzerland.
Turkey.

Awards.— One Guld, 3 Silver, and 3 lironze Medals

3oo THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Belgium.

Bulgaria, Roumelia, Servia, and Montenegro.

France and Monaco.

Greece.

Awards. — One Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze Medals

Division 3. Asia and Africa.

A
Afghanistan.
Azores and Madeira.
French Colonies and Possessions.
Japan.

Awards. — One Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze Medals.

Egypt and Suez Canal. I Persia.

New Republic. | Shanghai and China.

And any two of the following, or of others not enumerated, viz. : Congo, Dutch Indies, Liberia,
Orange Free State, Sarawak, Siam.

Awards. — Two Silver and 2 Bronze Medals.

Division 4. America.

Holland and Luxemburg.
Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
Portugal.
Sweden.

Philippine Islands.
Portuguese India.
Other Portuguese Colonies.
Transvaal.

Mexico (including locals).
United States of America (including Post-
masters' Stamps).
United States Locals.

Buenos Ayres.

Peru and Pacific Steam Navigation Company.

San Domingo.

Uruguay.

Paraguay.

Venezuela and La Guiara.

Colombian Republic (including the various

States).
Confederate States of America (including

Postmasters' Stamps).
Hawaii.

Awards. — One Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze Medal.

Argentine Confederation and Republic, Cor-

rientes, and Cordoba.
Bolivia.
Brazil.

Awards. — One Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze Medal.

Chili.

Cuba and Porto Rico, and Fernando Po.

Guatemala.

And any two of the following, viz. : — Costa Rica, Curagoa and Surinam, Danish West Indies,
Ecuador, Hayti, Honduras, Nicaragua, San Salvador.

Awards. — Two Silver and 2 Bronze Medals.

Exhibitors may compete in all or any of the divisions or subdivisions, and the number of
Exhibits is not limited.

Class III.

For Collections of Rare Stamps.

Each Exhibit to consist of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred stamps.

Awards. — One Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze Medal.

Class IV.

Will consist of entire Collections of Postal Adhesives, with or without Envelopes, Postcards, &c,

in albums or volumes.

Division 1. — Special or General Collections, without limit as to number.

» 2. — „ „ t) total number not to exceed 4000.

» 3-— » » „ „ „ 2000.

Awards.— Division 1 —One Gold, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze Medals.
„ 2 — One Silver and 2 Bronze Medals.
3.— One „ „ .1 „ Medal.

Austria, Hungary, and Lombardy
Germany, and all States.
Great Britain.

LONDON PHILATELIC EXHIBITION, 1897. 301

Class V.

Is for Collections of Entire Envelopes and "Wrappers.

Division 1. — One or more of the following countries : —

Mauritius.

Russia, Finland, and Poland.

United States of America.

Division 2. — Any four countries not named in Division 1.

Awards. — Division 1. — One Gold and 1 Silver Medal.

,, 2. — One Silver and 2 Bronze Medals.

Class VI.

Will consist of Collections of Entire Post Cards, and Letter Cards.

Division 1. — One or more of the following countries : —

Finland. Luxemburg.

Germany, and all States. Mexico.

Jamaica, Barbadoes, and Trinidad. Roumania.
Japan.

Division 2. — Any six countries other than those named in Division 1.

Awards. — Division 1. — One Silver and 1 Bronze Medal.
„ 2.— One „ „ 1 „ „

Class VII.

For Exhibits by Stamp Engravers and Manufactureis lof Postage Stamps and Telegraph Stamps-

N.B. — Stamps shown by any person, firm, or company, in this Class must be limited to
specimens of their own work, and may comprise Stamps as issued, Proofs, or Essays, or all three.

Awards. — One Gold and 2 Silver Medals.

Class VIM.

For Philatelic Literature and Works.

Division 1. — Current Philatelic Journals, exhibited by the Publishers.

,, 2. — Philatelic Works published since 31st October, 1890, and shown by the Publishers.
,, 3. — Collections of Philatelic Literature, published prior to 1880.

N.B. — In case of serial publications, in Division 1 the last volume published, and in Division 3
the first volume only to be shosvn.

Awards. — Division 1. — Two Silver and 2 Bronze Medals.
2.-Two „ „ 2 „
3. -One „ „ 1 „ Medal.

Class IX.

For Albums, &c.

Division 1. — The most suitable Album or Book for a special collection.
,, 2. — „ ,, ,, „ general collection.

„ 3.— The best Book, Method, or System, for arranging and showing Classes V. and YI.

Awards.— One Silver and 1 Bronze Medal in each Division.

Class X.

For Philatelic Accessories and Appliances for use by Collectors.
Awards. — Two Bronze Medals.

Class XI.

Special arrangements of Stamps, Stamps on Original Letter Sheets or Envelopes, Telegraph Stamps
(except those of Great Britain), Proofs, Essays, Curiosities, and Objects of Interest in con-
nection with Philately and the Postal Service.

Awards. — Two Silver and 4 Bronze Medals.

302 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

A Special Gold Medal,

Being the Grand Prize of the Exhibition, will be given for the most meritorious
Exhibit of Adhesive Postage Stamps shown in Classes I. or II.

The following Special Prizes will also he awarded :

One Silver and one Bronze Medal in each of Classes I., II., III., IV., and XI.

for the best Exhibits by Members of Provincial Philatelic Societies resident in the
United Kingdom, who do not gain prizes in the open competition in the Class for
which the special prizes are awarded.

The Philatelic Society, London, will give two prizes for the best Collections shown
by any Exhibitors under the age of sixteen years, and also prizes for the best exhibit
by any amateur not a member of the Society ; for the neatest and best arranged
Exhibit shown ; and for the best exhibit of stamps in the finest condition ; and also
two Silver Medals to be awarded to authors of Philatelic Works shown in Class VIII.

Messrs. Stanley Gibbons, Limited, have placed at the disposal of the Committee
one Gold and one Silver Medal to be awarded for the two best Collections exhibited
in any Album of English manufacture containing over 8000 stamps, and one Gold
and one Silver Medal for the two best Collections in any Album of English manufacture
containing under 8,000 stamps.

Mr. W. H. Peckitt offers onr Gold and one Silver Medal for the two best
Collections of unused Postage and Telegraph Stamps of Great Britian, and also one
Gold and one Silver Medal for the two best exhibits shown in Class III.

Mr. W. T. Wilson will give one Gold and one Silver Medal for the two best
Collections of the Stamps of Mexico.

Mr. M. Giwelb offers one Gold Medal for the best Collection of the Stamps of the
Colombian Republic and States.

Mr. W. Doming Beckfcon one Silver and one Bronze Medal for the two best
Exhibits shown by ordinary members of the Manchester Philatelic Society.

Mr. M. P. Castle one Gold and one Silver Medal for the two best exhibits of
European Stamps.

Mr. W. Hadlow one Silver Medal for the most complete Collection of the Stamps
of Queensland.

Mr. E. Ehrenbach one Silver and one Bronze Medal for the two best Exhibits
shown by Continental Collectors.

A further limited number of medals will also be placed at the disposal of the
Judges, for Award in any cases in which they may consider an Exhibit specially
deserving of recognition, and the Committee will also award Silver Medals for
special services rendered to the Exhibition.

No Exhibitor can take more than one prize in each Class (exclusive of special
prizes) except in Class II., in which Class not more than two prizes may be taken by
one'Exhibitor. The Judges shall be at liberty to withhold any prize if from insuffi-
ciency of competition or for any other reason they shall think that it should not be
awarded.

ORANGE FREE STATE PROVISIONAL.

3°3

® range ftree fjtate provisional.

From the " American Journal of Philately ."

'E have received the 3d. blue surcharged in black ^d. There are seven
types of the surcharge and a number of minor varieties, caused by
broken figures. The stamps are in sheets of 240, four panes of
60 stamps each. The surcharge covers two panes. The upper and
lower halves of each sheet should therefore be alike, but, owing to some
defect, the sixth stamp in the first vertical row of the upper half and
most of the stamps of the first and second vertical rows of tlie lower
half are very faintly surcharged. To remedy this defect they have been overprinted
by hand with type 5, producing five varieties of double surcharge. We have
examined a number of sheets and found the varieties in the first row, on both halves,
are always the same, but on some sheets part of the surcharges in the second row of
the lower half are sufficiently clear not to require the second impression.

We illustrate five of the types.

III.

IV.

VII.

Type II differs from Type I in having the figure 1 with a straight serif, and type vi
differs from type vii in having the figure 1 with a slanting serif. The sheet is
composed of eighty-four stamps of type I, fourteen of type II, twenty of type in,
eighteen of type IV, fifty-eight of type v, thirty of type VI, and sixteen of type VII.

We also illustrate by the following diagram the make-up of sheets, giving all the
double surcharges of the various sheets. The double surcharges are represented by
two numerals in the square, the lower numeral being the type number o the original
surcharge, and the upper that of the second surcharge.

Adhesive Stamps.

Perforated.

4p on 3p blue, black surcharge.

type i

.}p on 8p blue

.. n

2P on 3p blue

Jp on 3p bine ,,

|p on 3p blue ,,

„ v

£p on 3p blue

$p on 3p blue

Varieties.

a. Double surcharge, types

and v

b. Double surcharge .,

and v

c. Double surcharge „

and v

d. Double surcharge ,,

i-v

and v

e. Double surcharge ,,

and v

On the next page we reproduce the din gram referred to above.

304

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

DIAGRAM showing make up of Sheets of Orange Free State Provisional "fed.

1
1
1
1

6
5
5
5

1
1
2
1
3
6
6
5
5
5

1
1
1
1
4
6
G
5
5
5

6
6
5

5
5

1
1
1
1
4
3
G
7
5
5

1
1
1
1
4
3
7
7
5
5

5
3

5
5

5
6

5
5

1
1
1
1
4
6
6
5
5
5

1
1
1
4
6
6
5
5
5

1
1
1
1
4
3
6
7
5
5

1
1
1
1
4
3
7
7
5
5

1
1
1
1
4
3
G
6
5
5

1
1
1
1
4
3
7
6
5

1
2
1
2
4
3
7
7
5
5

1
1
2
1
4
3
7
6
5
5

2
2
1
1
4
3
7
6
5
5

3
6
6
5
5

Four panes of 60 Stamps each.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

3°5

J^ovelties and discoveries.

China.— Mr. David Benjamin informs
us that China will jcin the Postal Union
from the 1st of January next, and will issue
stamps of the following values : — ^c, lc.

2c.
$1..

4c., 6c, 8c, 10c, 20c, 30c, 50c, and
besides other postal stationery.

Great Britain. — Mr. E. J. Cooper
sends us the £d. and Id. " Army Official "
with error of " OFFICIAL" He informs
us that one exists in the lower half of each
sheet. We have not seen the 2^d. , but the
error is no doubt reproduced in that value
also. In the specimens before us the last
letter is clearly an " I " and not a broken
" L."

ARMY

OFFICIAI

idhesives.

Error

•'OFFICIAI

vermilion.
lilac.

Hawaii. — The following notice ap-
peared in the Daily Stamp Item for Oct.
29th :—

Honolulu, H. I., Oct. 12th, 1896,

The Department of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Hawaii is to have a complete set of
department stamps of the denominations of two,
five, ten, twelve, and twenty-five cents. The
entire set will be similar in design, distinguished
only by the numerals and different colours.
They will have the head of Hon. L. A. Thurston,
late Minister to the United States, At the top
of the stamp is the monogram " R. H.,'' and
the words " Department of Foreign Affairs."
The words " Foreign Affairs " form the upper
part of the oval, and the eight stars symbolic of
the Hawaiian group form the lower part.

Holland. — We have another of the
high values in larger size and in bi-colour
from Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.

Adhesive.
i gulden, brown, centre in olive.

Jamaica.— The Post Office (New York)
publishes the following official document
concerning Jamaica's unsurcharged split
provisional : —

Appendix p. 113.

GOVERNMENT NOTICE.

General Post Office,

20th Nov., 1891.

For the greater convenience of persons avail-
ing themselves of the facilities afforded by the
book post, and also for the prepayment of news-
papers forwarded within the Colony, his Ex-
cellency the Governor, in executive committee,
has been pleased to authorise the recognition of
one-half of the present postage label in prepay-
ment of the half-penny rate of postage.

The label must be divided diagonally so as to
render the ^-penny label triangular — the only
shape in which it will be recognised inpayment
of postage.

Alex. J. Brymer,

Postmaster for Jamaica.

Lab Jan.— Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
send us three fresh surcharges, " Labuan "
in large sans-serif type on current North
Borneo stamps, with colours changed.

Adhesive s

25c. green sur. black.

50c. brownish red ,,

1 dol. blue

Orange Free State. — We have
received a used copy of a new id. provi-
sional from Messrs. Whitfield King & Co.
According to the American Journal of
Philately there are seven varieties and
several double surcharges as set nut in the
diagram which we print on another page.

Adhesive

Stamps

2 p. on 3 p. blue,

black

surcharge,

type 1

=Vp. on 3p. blue,

„

.. II

£p. on 3p. blue,

„

„ HI

ip. on 3p blue,

„ IV

ip. on 3p. blue,

,, v

&p. on 3p. blue,

„ VI

^p. on 3p. blue,

„ VII

/ 'arieties.

Double surcharge, types I and V
Double surcharge, ,, II and V
Double surcharge, ,, III and V
Double surcharge, ,, IV and V
Double surcharge, ,, VI and V

Patiala. — The following high value
Indian Stamps are chronicled, surcharged
with name in black : —

Adhesives

it. black, green and carmine.
2r. ,, carmine and brown
3r. ,, brown and green.
5i\ ,, blue and violet.

3°6

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Portugal. — The Deutsche Brief. -Zeit-
uny chronicles the following with stamps
of the type of the current adhesives : —

Envelopes.
25 reis, green on buff; 142 x no mm.
50 ,, blue ,, ,,

Post Cards

20x20

30 x 30

green
lilac

brown

140x90 mm.
144x86 mm.
138x86 mm.
144 x86 mm.
138x86 mm.

Letter Cards.
green on ochre-yellow; 120x74 mm.
blue on azure

Seychelles.— Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. send us a new provisional — " 18
cents" in one line in sans-serif type in
black on the current 45c.

Adhesive.
1 8c. on 45c. brown and carmine.

Shanghai.— We are indebted to Mr.
David Benjamin for specimens of some
new printings of the current design. They
are 2c. red and black on white wove paper,
4c. orange and black on yellow wove
paper, and 6c. carmine and black on pink
wove paper. Mr. Benjamin informs us
the 2c. is changed to a different shade to
prevent their being mistaken for the 5C.
stamps. The watermark on these new
printings is slightly larger, being on
remnants of the Jubilee large 2c. paper.
Perf. 13^ x 14.

Adhesives.
2C, red and black on white paper.
4c, orange and black on yellow paper.
6c, carmine and black on pink paper.

Sierra Leone.— We have received the
higher values of the new type from
Messrs. Whitfield King & Co., as fol-
lows : —

Adhesives.

2s. green, name and value in blue.
5s. green, name and value in red.
20s. brown on red.

Tobago.— By an error Messrs. De la
Eue sent out a supply of 6000 of the Is.
value printed in orange brown, the colour
of the 6d. As soon as the error was dis-

covered the issue was withdrawn by cable,
but the authorities seem to have jobbed
off the lot to a speculator.

Adhesive.
is. orange brown, error of colour.

Transvaal. — Two more values have to
be added to the current set. Our pub-
lishers send us the 10s., and Messrs.
Whitfield King & Co. the 6d. The 6d. is
bi-coloured, with value in green in con-
formity with the rest of the series issued
up to date. The 10s., however, despite
the fact that it is chronicled by several of
our contemporaries with value in green,
is not bi-coloured, the value being in the
same colour as the rest of the stamp, viz.,
brown.

Adhesives.

6d. lilac, value in green.
1 os. brown.

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No. 1, price one shilling (postage extra).

The November packet contains— Italy
lc. and 2c. ; Trinidad, new type, ^d. and
Id., &c.

No. 2, price five shillings (postage extra).

The November packet contains Set of 6
Chili, unpaid, red on yellow ; St. Helena,
new type, £d., Id., and 2Jd., &c.

These packets are on sale until November 30th (unless
the supply is previously exhausted) and are supplied
only to Subscribers to the Philatelic Record and
Stamp News. Similar packets will be on sale every
month, and may be subscribed for in advance for the
year (January to December inclusive), at the following
rates : — No. 1 packet (sent by book post with the paper)
12s. post-free (if by letter post the postage is is. extra
Inland ; 2s. 6d. Abroad). No. 2 packet (by letter post),
Inland 61s., Abroad 62s. 6d., post-free

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum) is extra.
—Buhl & Co, Limited, 11, Queen Victoria Street, E.C.

»=«)^«)i*i«<* ^ ^i^^iSi: :«- ^sgxfisasss

The earliest information as to New Issues will be much appreciated by us, and will be duly credited

10 the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our foreign correspondents can

materially help us in this direction,. When possible, a specimen

should accompany the injormation, and be addressed to

the Editor Mr. Edwakd J. Nankivell,

28, Eirdhurst Rise, Croydon.

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

^Kilaiolvf in the J)Ta8s>

Nova Scotia Remainders.

Here, at last, is the full history of the
Nova Scotia Remainders. We quote
from Mr. C. J. Phillips' " Notes " in the
Monthly Journal.

We shall now endeavour, as far as lies in
our power, to relate all the facts in reference to
the lot of remainders of these stamps, that we
have been for some weeks supplying to the
trade.

We should have published some particulars
before this, but we are not the only persons
interested, and we have had to correspond with
Mr. Bartlett in Prince Edward's Island, which
necessarily took up much time ; and even now
we cannot give as many details as we should
wish.

The first intimation we had of the existence
of any remainder of the cents issue of Nova
Scotia was on May 14th last, when we
received the following cablegram from the
Hon. W. S. Fielding, then Premier and
Provincial Seci'etary of Nova Scotia, but since
advanced to the important position of Finance
Minister of the Dominion of Canada :

" For what quantity Nova Scotia stamps of
cents issue will you give face value ? Our
Government guarantee them to be remainders.
— Fielding, Premier."

The same day we replied by cable as
follows :

'' State quantity of each value ; we probably
take all. The lot must not be broken, or
market will be spoiled. —Gibbons."

On May loth we received a reply cable from
the Premier :

" Denominations one, two, eight and-a-half,
ten, and twelve and-a-half. You might offer
for each denomination, with your own limits ;
if ofter satisfactory, will close . for whole. —
Fielding, Premier."

On the same, or following, day we cabled
again as follows :

•' Cable quantity of each value ; our offer
cannot be made until this is known. —
Gibbons."

No answer was received to this last cable,
and the next information we had was that the
entire stock of remainders had been purchased
by Messrs. A. A. Bartlett, of Charlottetown,
Prince Edward's Island, and Mr. Donald A.
King, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, both well-
known philatelists of many years' standing.

We at once opened negotiations with Messrs.
Bartlett and King, to see if a business arrange-
ment could not be entered into, for us to have
the sole sale of these stamps for certain
districts, and eventually we secured the sole
right of sale in Europe, Asia, Africa, and
Australia,

The following certificate was given with the
stamps : —

" Halifax, N. S.,

" June Uh, 1896.
" A. A. Bartlett, Esq.

"Dear Sir,— For the information of all
whom it may concern, I desire to say that,
acting for the Government of Nova Scotia, I
have sold and delivered to you the remainder of
the cents issue of Nova Scotia postage stamps,
and that no other stamps of that issue are in the
possession of this Government.
" Yours faithfully,

" W. S. Fielding.

" Provincial Secretary."
As soon as we received a supply of the stamps,
we prepared the following circular, for issue to
the trade generally in the countries we repre-
sent : —

"NOVA SCOTIA.

" GOVERNMENT REMAINDERS OJF THE CENT
ISSUE.

" The Government of Canada, through the
Premier of Nova Scotia, the Hon. W. S.
Fielding, has just sold the whole remainder of
the Cent Issue of that Colony to a strong syndi-
cate of stamp dealers ; and the entire sales of
these stamps for the whole of Europe, Asia,
Africa, and Australia, have been placed in the
hands of Stanley Gibbons, Limited.

" The stamps have been carefully sorted, and
divided pro rata into three classes, to be sold
respectively at £12 : 10 : 0, £51 : 10 : 0, and
£103, net cash with order.

" The prices are guaranteed, and no lot will
be obtainable for a less sum than that quoted.
As soon as a certain number are sold, the price
will be advanced.

" The following lots can now be supplied : —

No. 1. Price £12 : 10 : 0, contains :

27 stamps of 1 cent black.

20 ,, 2 ,, mauve.

27 „ 6.1, „ green.

14 „ 10 „ red.

0 „ 12£ „ black.

100

No. 2. Price £51 : 10 : 0, contains :

134 stamps of 1 cent black.

133 ,, 2 ,, mauve.

133 ,, %\ , green.

06 ., 10 „ red.

34 ., 12i „ black.

500

No. 3. Price £103, contains :

320 stamps of 1 cent black.

320 ,, 2 „ .. mauve.

320 „ 8£ ,, green.

160 „ 10 ., red.

»0 „ 12^ ,, black.

1200

3o8

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

"The stamps are all guaranteed genuine
originals, and all have the full gum.

" Stanley Gibbons, Limited,

"391, Strand, London, W.C."

"We arranged that this circular should he
posted on the last day of August, and no lot was
delivered until September 1st, when Messrs.
W. H. Peckitt, Buhl & Co., Limited, Richard
Senf. etc, etc, had their lots either delivered or
posted to them. Unfortunately, owing to delay
in procuring the electros of the stamps for the
heading of the circular, the issue of this was
delayed a few days, and hence the fuss some of
the small dealers have kicked up about lots
having been offered at so many different prices
prior to the issue of our circular.

In September we wrote to Messrs. Bartlett
& King, and suggested that the number of
stamps of each value in the "remainders"
should be published ; and under date of October
1st, we have the following reply :

" We do not feel called on to take the dealers
into our confidence, and give them details of
the number of stamps we purchased ; and so
far as the collectors are concerned, we think
they will scarcely find any grave cause for
complaint, when we cheapen the set to them,
as we do, and give them that queen of hand-
some stamps, the 8J cents, at a quarter the
price it has been selling at in the past year,
and at the same time we guarantee never to
lower the price."

Personally we think it would have been
better to quote the actual numbers sold ; but,
as the price is guaranteed by responsible per-
sons, the number is really not important.

We quite agree with Mr. Phillips that
it would have been better to have given
the actual numbers of the stamps sold.
Mr, Bartlett certainly has not raised him-
self in the estimation of his fellow dealers
by his boorish refusal to do so.

Bolivia: 5 centavos, 1866.

Some valuable " Notes on the 5 centa-
vos Stamp of Bolivia," by Mr. H. E.
Oldfield, are published in the London
Philatelist. Instead of one plate with two
retouches as specified by one authority,
or three separate plates as implied by
another, Mr. Oldfield's investigations lead
him to believe in the existence of one or
more plates in five different states. He
formulates the chief characteristics of the
five plates he has met with as follows : —

Plate A. — The lines of the globe are crossed
by a series of small vertical lines, and at the
extreme right by two or three diagonal lines
curving slightly inwards. With the exception
of some few stamps, mostly in the two top rows,
these vertical lines commence about the centre
of the upper part of the globe, extending thence
to the right. In the exceptions mentioned, these
vertical lines are confined more to the right and
lower part of the globe.

The shading on the breast of the eagle is

almost entirely composed of diagonal and hori-
zontal lines. There are some few indicating
the line of the throat, and one, or perhaps two,
running parallel with the vertical lines of the
wings, but the comparative absence of vertical
lines of shading is one of the features of this
plate.

Plate B.— The vertical lines on the globe
have almost disappeared. The diagonal lines
at the right have been strengthened, deepened,
or newly cut, so that they stand out much
more clearly or distinctly than in Plate A.
Numerous vertical lines of shading have been
inserted on the breast of the eagle.

If you compare the stamps of Plate A with
those "of Plate B, it is easy to detect tho differ-
ences in the lines of shading, indicating the
eye, the mouth, and the lines of the throat,
or some one or more of them.

Plate C. — The disappearance of the dia-
gonal lines from the globe, as well as of the
vertical ones, except in the case of some few
stamps, notably Nos. 1, 2, 6, 9, 12, 22, 54, 04,
and 66. There is however, in many of the
stamps a thickness or dark indistinctness in this
part. New short horizontal lines have been
added to the right of the globe (as stated in
the Catalogue for Advanced Collectors), or in
some cases the existing lines have been merely
deepened and broadened.

Speaking generally, the breast of the eagle
in this plate has a much more open and white
appearance than in Plate B, the lines of shad-
ing there being decidedly less numerous. There
is an error in this sheet, the stamp No.^ 66
in the bottom row being lettered "Bolivia"
instead of "Bolivia."

Plate D.— That the thickness to the right
of the globe, as described in Plate C is much
more strongly marked, approaching almost to
a dark shadow in this spot. The lines of the
background are much closer together, and in
places the background appears to be almost
solid (as it does in the stamps of Sicily), unless
examined through a magnifying glass.

Generally speaking, the stamp has a much
rougher and coarser appearance than in the
earlier plates. The word " Bolivia " in stamp
No. 66 in the bottom row is correctly spelt.

Plate E.— Generally speaking, I can only
say that the workmanship is decidedly rougher
and coarser than in Plate D. The background
in most cases is composed, apparently, only
of confused lines in blocks, instead of consisting
of crossed vertical and horizontal lines running
continuously across the stamp from top to
bottom, or side to side. The plate has the appear-
ance of being upon its last legs, and quite fit
to give place to a new issue, which, I should
imagine, were then about to appear. In stamp
No. 66 the lettering much more nearly ap-
proaches "Bouvia" than "Bolivia."

Stamps in Washington.

Here is an interesting growl from a
Washington correspondent in the columns
of the Weekly Philatelic Era : —

The Post Office here has at last used up the
terrific number of lc. Columbians which were

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

309

foisted on us, and now has, to the general
surprise of collectors, begun to distribute a
generous number of sheets of the lc. 1890,
which will have to be worked off before we can
have the Bureau stamps. "We have a pretty
tough time of it in "Washington. This Post
Office is a general dumping ground for old stuff
that is returned by other offices, and we poor
local people have it dished up to us until it is
exhausted before we can have what others have.
For over a year now the merchants here have
been obliged to use the lc. Columbians on all
their circulars., etc., despite their protests and
growls. A number of them have made a
practice of sending to Baltimore for their lc.
stamps when there was a large lot to be used at
one time, in order to avoid the extra licking
and trouble. Nice state of affairs for the
nation's capital, isn't it ?

Greece : Perfs. 1888-1889.

From the Gazette Timbrologique we take
the following interesting item respecting
the perforation of the Belgian prints of
Greece : —

Finding that Belgian prints perforated 13£
were rather scarce, a specialist wanted to know
whether this perforation was official or only
private, or perhaps trial ; so he applied to the
head of the stamp department at the Ministere
des Finances, and received the following reply :
'; The Chancellor of the Exchequer ordered a
perforating machine guaging 13£ in order to
supply the public with perforated stamps, being
easier to separate. When the machine was
delivered he ordered all sheets in stock to be
perforated. The Belgian impression, however,
was nearly exhausted, and only three or four
sheets of each of the 1, 5, 10, 20, 25, and 40
leptas (each of 300 stamps) were found and
perforated 13£. The 50 leptas and 1 drachme
were not perforated on account of the different
size of the sheets. These few sheets were
issued and afterwards the Athens impression was
perforated in the same guage. Very shortly.
however, this machine broke down, a new
machine was ordered guaging only 11£, and all
stamps have since been perforated 11£."

Alsace Lorraine.

Up to now the exact day of issue for
the stamps of Alsace Lorraine has never
been clearly shown. From the paper that
has appeared in these columns we saw
that the official decree was published on
the 6th of September, 1870, and now
Mr. Keinhemier, according to the Austria
Philatelist, has found an envelope with
such a stamp obliterated with this date,
September 6 th, 1870. This will enable us
now to fix the exact day.

Switzerland : Cantonals.

The Schweizer Briefmarken Zeitung gives
a detailed list of all the Cantonal stamps
shown at the Geneva Exhibition. This
list differs in nearly every total from that
given in the Monthly Journal, and as it is
compiled by one of the foremost members
of the Geneva Society we believe it to be
correct.

Unused. Used.

Bale, 2^ rp

12 ..
2 ..

2 ..
15 ..

3 ..
2 ..

4 ..
2 ..
8 ..
7 ..

11 ..
2 ..

4 ..
55 ..

5 ..

6 ..
38 ..

5 ..

42 ..

2 ..

.... 53

Zurich, 4 rp., horizontal lines..
„ vertical lines ..
„ 6 rp., horizontal lines..
„ vertical lines ...
„ no lines

... 33

... 50
... 102

... 85

... 32

,, 10c, cut in half

„ 5c, large eagle

„ 5c, small „

„ 5c, dark green

,, 5c, green on white...

... 31
... 65
... 58
... 57
... 24
... 32

.... 135

... 48

Winterthur, 2^ rp

Orts Post, with frame

... 76
... 430

.... 293

Post Locale, with frame

... 521

., without ,,

... 35

Lost Opportunities.

Dr. E. Diena gives a short extract in
the Schtveizer Briefmarken Zeitung from
two catalogues, printed in 1864 and 1865,
and cites the prices of a few stamps,
which fairly make us wish we could
transplant ourselves back to those times.
For instance —

Unused. Used.

Naples, 1860 trinacria Fr. 6.00 ... Fr.4.00

4.00

2 50

Saxony, 1850, 3pf.

... 2.50

Spain, 1851, 2 reales

— ...

... 4.00

1852, 2 ,

3.00

„ 1853,2 „

... 2.50

Tuscany, 1851, 2 soldi

— ...

... 10.00

„ 1852, 60 crazie ...

— ...

... 10.00

1856,9 „ ...

— ...

... 0.30

„ 1860. 3 lire

... 4.00

Wiirtemberg, 1850, 18kr. ...

— ...

... 1.00

Ceylon, 1854, lsh. 9d

4.00 ...

... 2.00

New Brunswick, 1851, 1/-

— ,

... 5.00

Nova Scotia, 1851, 1/- ....

— ..

... 5.00

Bale, 1845, 2£rp

4 00 .

2.00

Geneva, 5c

... 1.25

Neuchatel, 1850. 5c

— ...

... 1.50

Vaud, 1849, 4c

—

... 2.50

n n 5c

... 1.50

Winterthur, 1850, 2£rp

— ...

... 1.00

Zurich, 1843, 4rp

— ...

... 1.50

„ „ 6rp

— ...

... 0.75

^^o1 <»91C*):X£>^'\_»

3io

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

^hilaiolic Qossip.

The New Gibbons Catalogue.

The new Gibbons Catalogue is to be a
thing of beauty and a joy for ever. It is
to be in three volumes. Vol. 1 will
include the adhesive stamps of Great
Britain and her Colonies; Vol. 2 will
comprise the adhesive stamps of all
countries other than those included in the
British Empire ; Vol. 3 will be devoted
to envelopes, wrappers, and postcards.
We understand that the work is being
edited and largely re-written by one of
the very highest authorities, assisted by
one of the strongest committees of experts
that could be got together in this country.
The pocket size is to be maintained, and
there will be a full index, with cross
references in each volume. The first vol.
is promised for December, the second for
January, and the third for February.
Till then we shall exist in a state of
animated expectancy.

A Good Story.

Here is a good story from the

Westminster Gazette : —

The writers of love-letters will do well when
inditing or preserving these missives to remem-
ber the mural of an incident which happened a
week or two ago. A. youthful philatelist
received permission from his father to sell or
exchange a number of old postage stamps he
had discovered in a lumber room. The frugal-
minded papa impressed upon the son the fact
that if he left the stamps on the envelopes he
would get a better price for them. The boy
adhered so strictly to this rule that he gave the
letters he found in some of the old envelopes
into the bargain. Two days afterwards a lady
informed the papa that the whole town was
reading, with intense interest, some letters
he had written before their marriage to his
present wife. Notwithstanding the frantic
efforts made by the composer of the love lyrics,
they were not returned, and there is no knowing
but that they may turn up one of these days in
a neat " Guide to the Writing of Love Letters."

Passing Strange.

The Quarterly Philatelic Circular (Bom-
bay) thinks it passing strange that
' ' although the new 9 reis stamp of Portu-
guese Indies cannot be obtained in any
single post office in Goa, they are being
offered for sale by London dealers, and
have been on the market for the past
month." Our contemporary should not
be surprised at any such happenings in
Portuguese postals of either the colonies

or the home country. They sometimes
happen in the best regulated philatelic
families, but they are chronic in the Por-
tuguese.

" Mr. Stanley."

What an affliction it must be to have a
double - barrelled name. Mr. Stanley
Gibbons, whose name after all is not a
double-barrelled one, is spoken of by the
'eathen Chinee and other ill-informed
persons, as often as Mr. Stanley as Mr.
Gibbons. The latest comes from India.
We are told that Mr. Stanley was intro-
duced to Native Society on his recent
visit to India, that one swell wedding was
delayed so as to be in time for his arrival,
that he was tempted with all sorts of
philatelic gems, and so on. It's a Jeykell
and Hyde business which, of course, may
have its advantages as well as its draw-
backs.

The Nova Soctia Affliction.

The list of evils distinctly traceable to the
Nova Scotia Eemainder deal threatens to
exceed that of the cures which may be
effected by taking an extra dose of
Cockles' Antibillious Pills. According
to an unimpeachable authority, the panic
which it occasioned has no equal in this
country since the Great Plague. Poor
victims were seen crawling into a court
off Cheapside to die in terrible agony ;
vast numbers of collectors who put their
faith in. unused are now suffering from
philatelic nightmare, brought on by
conjuring up other hoards of unused,
etc., etc. And there seems to be but
little doubt that it will lead to a further
slaughter of Armenians, foggy weather,
an outbreak of rabies, an epidemic of
Secret Dots, scurvy, and further displays
of brotherly love.

Mr. Ewen and his Publications.

Mr. H. L'Estrange Ewen, who has just
removed from Swanage to 32, Palace
Square, Norwood, announces that the
second vol. of his English Specialists''
Journdl will commence with No. 10, to
be published on December 7th, and will
conclude with No. 17 (July, 1897). On
December 1st, he will publish a new
Album for British Specialists' Stamps.
The first 1000 copies he intends to give
away, at a cost of £90, for the purpose of
advertising his change of address.

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

311

The Height of Philatelic Impudence.

The editor of the Post Office (New York),
having been charged with appropriating
other people's labour, without acknow-
ledgment, and presenting it as his own
deep research, in reply thus justifies his
action and consoles the victim : —

Any man who thinks must be constantly
changing his views ; therefore, credit for what
he writes in magazine articles from month to
month, is about as apt to do him dishonour as
honour.

Great Scott ! Comment would be quite
superfluous !

The Birmingham Society.

The Birmingham Society is a real live
Society. It is full of energy and work.
It makes up its programme in a business-
like manner for the whole Session, and
rattles through it with a record of
unflagging interest, It keeps Exchange
Packets going that are the delight of all
concerned, and with a punctuality that is
begotten of real terror of an exacting

secretary,
the comin

Oct. 15.

Nov. 5.
>, 19.

Dec. 3.
„ 17.

Jan. 7.

„ 81.

Feb. 4.

„ 18.

Mar. 4.

„ 18.
Apr. 1.

May 0.
„ 20.

Oct 7.

Here is the programme for
g Session : —

1896.
Presidential Address. Mr. W. T.

Wilson.
Display — Ceylon.
Paper — South Australian Officials.

Mr. G-. Johnson.
Display — South Australia.
Display — United States.

1897.
Paper — Cape of Good Hope. Mr.

G. Johnson.
Display — Postal Curiosities.
Display — Trinidad.
Paper— Mexico. Mr. W. T. Wilson
Paper—" Used Stamps, and why I

prefer to collect them ; "

followed by a Display of his

collection of West Indies.

Mr. R. Hollick.
Paper— Barbados. Mr. W. Pimm.
Paper — Austria and Hungary. Mr.

V. Lundeblad.
Philatelic Display. Mr. W. B. Avery
Paper— Roumania. Mr. II. Edel-

muller.
Annual General Business. Meeting

Suppression 0/ speculative Stamps

In the Native States of India.

The following letter has been addressed
by the Philatelic Society of Bengal to the
Director General of the Post Office of
India, as a protest against the issue of
unnecessary stamps for Native States : —

On behalf of the Philatelic Society of Bengal,
I beg to address you on what appears to us to
be the issue of unnecessary stamps of Native
States.

These stamps being intended for use only
within those States of British India, need not,
it appears to us, be either of numerous denomi-
nations or of high values. We desire to raise
no objections to the use of the following denomi-
nations : —

4a., la., 2a., 4a., 8a., 12a.. lr.

We would point out very respectfully that
these are all which can possibly be necessary
for the purely postal purposes of the States
concerned. Nearly all ihe supplies of stamps
of other denominations are, according to our
information, sold to stamp dealers and collectors.
With regard to the values over lr. this is
specially true. In short our information leads
us to believe that these States buy many deno-
minations of stamps from Government at cost
price, and sell to dealers and collectors at face
value, thus deriving a considerable income with-
out trouble and at the expense of Government.

Very respectfully we should like to say that
this course is not advantageous to Government.
Nor is it dignitied for the Government of India
to lend itself to practices which have hitherto
been considered peculiar to countries such as
the Republics of Central America and others.
We feel sure that this has only to be pointed
out to be remedied.

While on this subject, we venture to take up
your time with another branch of it. The sur-
charging of these stamps is done by the Govern-
ment Press, apparently without special precau-
tion in correcting the proof, so that almost
every printing discloses some mistake, This
has led to the belief among collectors that the
Government of India orders these mistakes to
be made in order that it may dispose of the
"errors" at high prices. No one acquainted
with the circumstances of the case could give
credence to such an absurd theory, but it is an
ascertained fact that this is a very common idea
among collectors of all classes in England,
Europe, aud America.

We would, therefore, suggest that very
special precautions should be taken in correcting
the proofs of these surcharges in future. It
appears to us that a little more care would do
away with cases of " wrong fount" and " broken
letters " being used, and to prevent cases of
" transposing."

312

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

J^otahle £>tam$s at Ruction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

£ s. d.
BUHL & Co.,

5th October, 1896

Buenos Ayres, ship, 4p.

red 15 o o

Nova Scotia, is. violet ... 18 o o

CHEVELEY & Co.

14th and 15th October, i8g6.

Nevis, 6d. olive grey,

litho* 15 o o

United States, 1856, 90c.

blue ... ... ...500

Victoria. 5s. blue on yellow 450
Virgin Islands, single line 476

WM, HADLOW.

16th October, i8g6.

Ceylon, 2s blue ... ... 300

Nevis, 4d- orange, litho,

imperf 440

Virgin Islands, 6d. pink,

perf. 16 800

iqth and 20th October, i8g6.

Barbados, 5s. rose* ...400

British Guiana, first issue,

12c. blue 770

Great Britain, id. block,

V.R.* .... 880

New Brunswick, is. dull

violet ... 10 15 o

Switzerland, Vaud, 4c. ... 11 10 o
Ditto, Zurich, 4c, vert.

lines ... ... ...800

PHILATELIC AUCTION Co.

5th October, 1896.

Ceylon, imperf., 8d.
Ditto, 4d.

6 o

£ s. d.

Canada, 7|d.* ... ... 12 o o

New Brunswick, is. violet 15 15 o

St. Lucia, 1883, is.* ... 4 7 6

PUTTICK & SIMPSON.

12th and 13th October, 1896.
Barbados, ^d. dark green,

perf. 12 by 15* ... 4 10 o

Canada, iod. blue on thick,

pair* 30 o o

Cape of Good Hope, wood

block, id. red* ...400

Great Britain, 3d. rose,

small letters, plate 3,

with dot, imperf* ... 3 3 o
Ditto, 4d. on bluish,

medium garter* ... 4 12 o
Ditto, 6d. buff, plate 13 4 4 o
Ditto, 1 os., wmk. anchor

on white, perf, initials* 4 10 o
Lagos., 2s. 6d. brown ...440
Mauritius, post paid, id.

red-orange on entire... 13 10 o
Nevis, 4d. rose on bluish* 400
Newfoundland. 4d. orange* 550
Turk's Islands, £d. on 4d.

grey, pair on entire

with a 4d. grey ...500

United States, 1856, 90c.

blue* 4 12 o

26th and 2-jth October, 1896.
St. Vincent, is. rose red,

no wmk., perf. 12* ... 7 10 o

Ditto, 5s. rose red, star* 11 10 o

Tobago, 6d. ochre, C A.... 650
Virgin Islands, 6d. rose,

perf. 15 5 o o

VtNTOM, BULL & COOPER.
8th and 9th October, 1896.
Dominica, is. carmine,

C.A., pair* 5 to o

Nevis, 6d. olive grey,

litho* 14 o

Ditto, is. blue green,

Perf- 13* 4 4

Ditto, is. pale green,

pair* 4 o

New South Wales, Sydney

view, 2d., plate 2 ... 13 o

Ditto, 2d., plate 5 ... 4 4

Do., 3d. green, no gum* 13 o

Victoria, 5s. blue on yellow 3 to

28th and 29th October, 1896.

B.CA. £10* 10 o

Cape, woodblock, id. ... 4 4

Mauritius, large fillet, 2d.,

slight nick ... ... 7 15

Ditto, corner gone, tear 8 o
Oil Rivers, 10s. on 5d.

English* ... ... 7 10

Sierra Leone, wmk. side-
ways, perf. 12^, 4d.,
block of nine* ... 6 o

Newfoundland is. orange 10 o
Barbados, small star, red,

pair* 4 10

British Guiana 1862, 4c,

pearl in heart... ... 4 o

Nevis, litho, 6d.*

,£13 10s. and 11 5
Ditto, used ... 9 o

St. Vincent, no wmk., is.

indigo, perf 12* ... 6 15
Ditto, star, id drab* ... 5 5
Ditto, C.A., perf 12, 4d.
ultramarine* ... ... 4 10

Turks Isles, o.\ on is.

prune, Gibbons 7* ... 6 6
Ditto, 4 on is. prune,

Gibbons 9* ... ... 3 5

Ditto, 2% on is. blue,

Gibbons 6* ... ... 10 5

Fiji, 2d. in black on 6d.,

Gothic V.R.* 4 4

CHARLES JONES. PRINTER, LONDON

The

Philatelic Record

and Stamp News,

DECEMBER, 1896.

QdJtorial J^otes.

ITH this number we conclude the first volume of the new series
of the Philatelic Record, making the eighteenth volume in all.
The kindly and flattering reception which has been accorded to
the new series, despite many defects, affords ample justification
for the departure. We have, in fact, had abundant evidence that
the present make-up of the contents of the Record is much
appreciated by a steadily increasing number of regular subscribers.

In closing the first chapter of our experiment we shall naturally be expected

to say something about the future. Emboldened by the success which has

attended our efforts, we propose in the new year to further

Our develope our programme for the solid improvement of the Reco/d.

Programme There can be no finality in the direction of improvement. Every

for 1897. year yields its c/wn crop of suggestions, and of more or less

fruitful criticism. Every commendation, every critique, and even

the snarl of the dyspeptic, are all to some extent helpful in indicating the road

that leads to success, which, being interpreted, means a booming circulation.

For the new year we have already arranged with careful Specialists for
several series of high class scientific and instructive articles. In the January
number Mr. Grant R. Francis will commence a series of articles descriptive of
the regular issues of the United States from 1847 to the present day, which,
whilst being eminently useful to budding specialists, will deal exhaustively
with the Plate Dots and other Minor Varieties. Mr. Francis has for many
years made the issues of the United States his special study, and the growing
popularity in this country of the beautiful stamps of the Great Republic is
sufficient to warrant the space which will be devoted to them in the January,
February, and March numbers of the Record. It is no slight commendation to
the postal issues of a country in these days to say, as we can say of the issues
of the United States, that in all those fifty years it has never once disfigured a
single stamp with a surcharge. Mr. Beckton, who has for a considerable time
been devoting himself to the study of the classic, but much neglected, issues
of Greece, has undertaken to write for the Record an exhaustive series of papers
on Greek stamps, which cannot fail to open the eyes of many of our readers to
the undoubted attraction of the stamps of Greece. They share in common
with those of the United States the distinction of being free from surcharges.
The early issues are full of interest for the painstaking specialist, indeed it is

3i4 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

a matter of constant wonder to the specialist in Grecians that such deeply
interesting stamps have not been more sought after in the past. Other papers
are in course of preparation and will be announced later on. We shall our
selves contribute some " Stray Notes on Transvaal," which we trust will be
helpful to those who are studying the issues of the South African Republic.
Their unsolved problems, their range of genuine varieties, their primitive issues,
their historical association and importance, invest the stamps of the Transvaal
with an interest that deepens as events unfold the history of African development.

By way of lending variety to our contents we propose to publish a series of
illustrated interviews with leading collectors, dealers, and auctioneers. The
first of the series will appear in our January number in the shape of an
interview with Mr. E. D. Bacon.

Our regular departments will all be maintained and edited to the best of
our ability. In our endeavour to keep our New Issues Chronicle up to date we
shall be grateful for all the help we can get, first hand, from our foreign and
colonial readers. Early specimens of new issues or provisionals for illustration
will be most helpful. Copies of Government Gazette Notices are most
important in presenting from month to month the postal history of the various
countries that interest us.

With the view of bringing the Philatelic Record into line with
Our date of other publications, and so conforming to the custom of the
Publication, bookselling trade, we propose to advance our date of publication

from the end to the beginning of the month. In future,
commencing with the January number, we shall publish on the 25th of each
month for the succeeding month. This will give time for the Record to be in
the hands of all our home readers and many of our foreign friends, on the
first of the month. It will also considerably facilitate the distribution of the
Record through the ordinary bookselling channels, and materially affect our
circulation. Our January number will be placed on sale on the 24th of
December. The February number will be published on the 25th of January,
and so on.

We find after a year's experiment that we must revert to the old
Our rates of subscription, viz., 5s. per annum, post free. The

Subscription 3s. rate has meant a loss on each number sold. The postage
Rates. of each number has been id. Add to that the cost of envelopes
and addressing and there is not much left to satisfy the printer.
Not only so, the enormous difference between our subscription rate and our
price for single numbers has been a source of constant friction with the book-
selling trade, and has seriously hampered our circulation through ordinary
trade channels, for we were practically underselling the trade. In addition to
all this we find the number of pages calculated for a 3s. subscription too few
for our programme, and we have, in most numbers, very much exceeded our
publishers' limit. The re-establishment of the old rate will give us a freer
editorial hand. We, therefore, propose, in the new year, to print the Record
from new type throughout, and upon a very much better finished and better
quality paper.

Some very hard things have been said about the Stamp Specu-
The„Stamp lator, and the manner in which he has been anathematised of
Speculator, late would lead an ordinary individual to believe that the Stamp
Speculator is quite a recent growth, or to speak more scientifically,
a recently recognised evolution. Indeed it is only quite lately that we have
divided ourselves up into three classes, viz., Collectors, Dealers, and Specu-
lators.

EDITORIAL NOTES. 315

Yet so long ago as 1863 the Stamp Speculator was very much in evidence ;
a writer in the Stamp Collectors' Magazine of that year calls attention to " a
practice " which " has recently arisen among postage stamp collectors of
laying up considerable numbers of obsolete and even current stamps." This
practice, the writer tells us, " is grounded on the assumption that the timbro-
maine will continue in vogue for several years, and that before it goes out
many stamps now comparatively common may become rather valuable to
collectors ; " and then he adds, " we are acquainted with several persons who
are thus storing French, Indian, and other common issues."

The storing up of French and Indian might not have been a good illustra-
tion of the best choice which could have been made in 1863, but a reference
of a curious list drawn up by Mr. Gilbert Lockyer, and published on another
page, will pretty clearly demonstrate the fact that a few pounds judiciously
invested, even some two or three years later, in common postage stamps, if
hoarded till this present year of grace, might have meant the turnings of a few
pounds into quite a little fortune. To-day of course the chances of speculation
seem to be less, because stamps are now printed by the million instead of by
the thousand. Still there are those who believe in common British Colonials
as an investment.

Collectors have for some time been divided by common

Classification consent into three well denned classes, namely, General Col-

of lectors, Specialists, and Speculants. Into this simple category

Collectors, most of us seem to fall, or were placed by our more zealous

friends. The Speculant, of course, prefers being classed as a

Collector. Now we are, it seems, to be further subdivided. A German

writer makes no less than seven classes, thus : —

1. Beginners.

2. Average ("mittlere" collectors).

3. Serious collectors. (Collections worth £2,000— £5,000.

4. Important Collectors. (Collections worth £5,000— £10,000.

5. Prominent Collectors. (Collections over £10,000).

7. "Hors pair" or "hors ligne." (Collections over £50,000).

This is positive, comparative, and superlative with a vengeance. It is
rather hard to learn that a collector cannot hope to be regarded as a serious
collector till he has amassed between ^2000 and ^5000 worth of stamps, and
that he must toil for another ^5000 before he can rank as an important col-
lector, and yet another ^5000 to be classed as a prominent collector; whilst to
be hung on the "ligne," " hors" fashion, we must hoard up to the tune of
,£"50,000.

316 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

(furious ^ost Offices.

By Edward J. Nankivell.

HE exigencies of primitive civilisation, of the opening up of new
countries, and of more or less unyielding circumstances, have led
to many curious makeshifts in postal matters. The postal arrange-
ments of our own country, past, and even present, are a fruitful
source of contrast and amusement, and sometimes there are
sarcastic growlings at the shortcomings which they exhibit. But

when we turn to less favoured countries and conditions we find an interesting

crop of makeshifts that defy comparison.

Sailors' Post Offices.

Probably no examples of crude postal arrangements exceed those which
may be termed "Sailors' Post Offices." Many years ago on the Island of
Ascension, a small volcanic bit of terra firma in the Atlantic, between Africa
and Brazil, there was a peculiar crevice in a large rock, known as the " Sailors'
Post Office." In that crevice crews of vessels passing to India, or returning,
left such letters as they wished to send back. Those letters were faithfully
taken to their destination by the next ship passing in the contrary direction.

Another similar arrangement is well known, and is, I believe, still in use in
the Straits of Magellan. On the extreme point of one of the farthest south
stretching promontories of Patagonia, opposite Tierra del Fuego, about half
way through the Straits, near Port Famine, on a singularly exposed jutting rock,
almost overtopped by the waters of the sea, is erected a lofty flagstaff, and on
the middle of the pole are coarsely painted, in red letters, these two words —
" Post Office." Beneath is suspended by an iron chain, a middling-sized cask,
whose lid, provided with a hinge, may be freely opened and shut, being desti-
tute of either lock or padlock. This cask forms the Post Office. Vessels passing
westwards through the Straits of Magellan, on their way to the countries in the
Pacific Ocean, launch a boat and deposit letters intended for European ports,
and take out letters or packets found in the cask for ports in the Pacific.
Vessels passing eastwards deposit letters for Pacific ports and take out those
in the cask intended for European ports. This postal service has been in
operation for a great many years, how many I cannot say, but sailors assert
that the letters have never been tampered with. Letters posted in the historical
cask are as safe for delivery as if posted at the General Post Office in London.

In an Old Man's Hat.

Omaha, in the State of Nebraska, U.S., had a population of 140,452 souls
at the last census. But a few years ago its only Post Office was an old man's
hat. When the first sod of the Union Pacific Railway, for completing railroad
communication from the Atlantic to the Pacific, was cut, a citizen gave the
assemblage an account of his arrival at that city, or rather at the site, in
October, 1854. "Along a narrow path," he said, " cut by some stalwart men
through tall, rank prarie, I wended my way in search of the Post Office. At
length I found an old pioneer, seated apparently in solitary rumination upon a
piece of hewn timber, and inquired of him for the Post Office. He replied that
he was Postmaster, and would examine the office for my letters. Thereupon
he removed from his head a hat, to say the least of it, somewhat veteran in
appearance, and drew from its cavernous depths the coveted letters." The old
man has passed away, and palatial buildings have taken the place of his old
hat for the reception and custody of letters.

CURIOUS POST OFFICES. 317

An Old Open Wooden Box.

Mr. Julius M. Price, special artist correspondent of the Illustrated London
News, tells us in his book " The Land of Gold," in which he details his journey
through the Western Australian Gold Fields, of a roadside letter box which he
passed in his travels. "It consisted simply of an old wooden box, such as
might have been used for packing tinned provisions in, nailed to a post. In
the front of it was roughly written ' 20 mile letter box.' There was no lid or
safe-guard of any sort, yet into this primitive receptacle our driver dropped
several letters. Their owners, who had stations round about, would probably
be passing that way during the course of the day, and would find them, if they
thought of looking, so our driver explained."

In a Billiard Saloon.

According to a correspondent of Modern Society the postal arrangements of
British Honduras are peculiar. He says : " I have been in one town for a month,
and the post office has only been open once during that time. When you want
a stamp, or to mail a letter, you must hunt up the postmaster, who carries on a
billiard saloon, and will sell stamps, deliver your letters, or register a letter all
in the saloon, but the receipt for the registered letter you must write out your-
self on any bit of paper which may be handy, the postmaster not even having
a book for the purpose."

In a Tree by the Wayside.

Mr. Castle also, in the account of his tour round the world, gives us some
interesting glimpses into the primitive arrangements which still exist in the
Great Republic. He wrote in the London Philatelist for July, 1893, "The
townships in the mountains are amusingly primitive — Grub Gulch, Giant
Springs, or Fish Camp, consisting of five or six rough modern houses, the
Post Office having its designation placed over the door by someone who was
not evidently brought up to sign-writing, and the ' Postmaster' being an obvious
Jack-of all-trades. When some of these small settlements are situated away
from the mail road, a wooden box is attached to a tree adjacent to the road,
and the letters deposited therein by the stage driver, literally ' to be left till
called for.' This receptacle is simply a small white-painted box, fastened on
to the friendly tree trunk by irons, and, being innocent of any lock, it is to be
presumed the worthy settlers are all of the greatest probity ; at the same time,
were I a dealer, I should feel afraid of sending out approval sheets thus ! "

Crude but Trustworthy.

Despite their crude character, their absolute reliance upon the common
honesty of erring human nature, the evidence of travellers of all degrees is that
letters posted in these most primitive of post offices have been singularly free
from interference. It would be interesting to collate the makeshifts of all
countries. There must be an abundance of interesting material. India alone
is full of primitive makeshifts ; indeed every country that has not been crossed
and recrossed by railways must have a. story to tell of its initiatory struggles to
imitate the postal services of more favoured countries.

3i8

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Something of TJalwe.

By Gilbert Lockyer.

APARISONS are odorous," Mrs. Malaprop thought, and no
doubt she was right ; but for all that there is in the process
a certain charm, a peculiar pleasure, which never seems to fail,
whether applied to individuals, places, pleasures, or even mis-
fortunes— given two men, a little sympathy and interest in
kindred subjects, a chance meeting, and hours will pass un-
heeded while they compare notes, grieving, or perhaps rejoicing, over the
difference between "now and then," mingling sweet recollections of long ago
and bitter thoughts of wasted opportunities.

A comparison of prices, it follows, can hardly fail to be of interest to
philatelists who would be up to date. Thinking thus, I have no intention of
starting an inquisition on the inconsistency of values of which there are
many palpable instances ; or of referring to auction values, which I consider
unreliable guides, varying from day to day according to the number of buyers,
the condition of the specimen and money market, the weather, or what not ;
but I will speak solely of the prices in a dealer's catalogue at which it is
presumed he was and is prepared to sell.

For this purpose, no lists can perhaps equal those of Messrs.
Stanley Gibbons, Limited, best known to the majority of collectors, while no
stamps can be selected with better effect than those of the West India Islands,
just now prominent in interest and inflated in price ! So let us take the
catalogues of Messrs. Stanley Gibbons for 1886 and 1896, the latter still in use,
and see the difference in value, within a period of ten years, of some of the
most prominent stamps of the Islands referred to. Such collectors who have
not followed the rapid increase of the last few years will, methinks, be rather
startled. Only the other day a friend, utterly ignorant as to the modern value
of stamps, brought me a small collection laid by for years, probably ever since
his school days, and was joyfully surprised to learn that the Nova Scotia shilling
and the Newfoundland shilling which it contained, both in fine condition and
unused, were worth a small • fortune to him. Perhaps there are others in the
same happy state of innocence who may be enlightened by the odious
comparisons in the list which follows. Of course the fact of the issues of the
Leeward Islands having been superseded in 1890 accounts for much, but many
stamps issued between 1886 and 1890, which do not appear here, show quite
as great, if not a greater rise, and in a shorter period of time.

Dominica.
1879.

MONTSERRAT.
1876.
1879.

Nevis.

1861.

1867.

1879.
1882.

2^d. brown. CC unused

4d. blue // //

6d. green. CC u

4d. blue // //

6d. grey .. 1/

is. green u

4d. orange //

is. sea-green //

6d. grey, litho //

2|d. brown //

1886.

1896

/' *.

0 6

0 10

0 15

3 0

4 10

2 5

5 0

10 0

0 17

SOMETHING OF VALUE.

3:9

1886. 1896.

Saint Kitts. £ s. d. £ s. d.

1879. 2-Jd. brown // o o 8 1 5 o

Virgin Isles.

4d. red brown u o o 8 012 o

is. crimson, with line... a 020 500

is. if with margin u 020 150

1880. id. green -/ 009 086

2^d. red brown // o 1 6 2 o o

■Jd. orange u o o 6 o 7 6

Barbados.

1852. (Jd.) on blued paper used 026 100

I^73- 3d. purple brown unused 016 o 15 o

Grenada.

1864. 6d. rose, star » 026 o 12 6

1881. -Jd. error OSTAGE « 036 100

1882. 8d. grey // 014 o 10 6*

is. mauve u o 1 9 3 o o*

* Not in Gibbons : prices taken from Blight's A. B.C. Catalogue of 1S9G.

St. Lucia.

1863. 6d. emerald unused 040 o 15 o

1864. is. orange, perf. 14 u 026 100

1881. ^d. black and green, C.C. » 016 o 12 6

1883. 4d. blackandyellow.C.A. » o o 10 o 17 6
is. black and orange » »/ 026 4 10 o

1885. is. orange-brown n » 019 800

Saint Vincent.

1869. 4d. yellow n 016 450

is. slate used 020 100

is. brown » 016 150

1871-1881. 4d. dark blue, star » 010 200

4d. ultramarine, star n 006 0126

6d. green, star unused 016 1 10 o

is. lake, star used 010 o 17 6

is. scarlet, star n 009 o 10 o

5s. lake red, star unused 086 14 o o

1883. 6d. green, C.A n o 1 o 1 o o

is. scarlet n v o 1 9 015 o

Ditto : Provisionals.

// -Jd. on half 6d » o 5 o 1 10 o

// id. on half 6d u o 10 o 4 10 o

// id. on 6d .'/ o 15 o 300

Tobago.

1879. 3d. blue, C.C n 010 0 10 0

6d. orange // » 016 0 10 0

is. green 11 » o 2 o 1 5 o

1881. 6d. ochre u » 010 3 5°

is. buff if / 020 o 10 o

1884. 4d. green, C.A v 010 100

Tkinidad.

5s. lake, C.C v 086 200

4d. grey, // perf. 14 n 016 o 10 o

1882. 4d. // C.A used 009 076

Examples may be multiplied without difficulty by anyone having the

catalogues, and time to spare; but more words seem superfluous.

32°

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

YJ&estepn Australia.

By Lipman E. Hush.

Postal Flscals.

0 the article in the Monthly Journal, Vol ii. p. 130, there is little
for me to add. At the present time there are large quantities of
fiscal stamps coming- over from the Colony. Postage is allowed
to be prepaid by these. They are the Internal Revenue Stamps
of the values of One Penny, Twopence, Threepence, Sixpence,
and One Shilling. On white wove paper, long rectangular in
shape. Printed in lilac, perforated 14, and watermarked, Crown and C A.
Since the goldmining industry has been so rapidly developed stamps of higher
values have been accepted at some Post Offices for the prepayment of Postage
and Registration on parcels of gold dust. The collection of these higher
values must be left to individual taste and discretion.

Telegraph Stamps.

Of these we know that the One Penny and Sixpence were authorised for
use as postage stamps. These are the only stamps of Western Australia that
have not the design of the Swan portrayed on them. They are watermarked
Crown and C C. The Penny is known perforated 12J and 14. The Sixpence
only in one perforation, viz : — 14.

Official Stamps.

As regards the stamps used for official purposes, the greatest care is requisite
at the hands of the collector. They are distinguished from the stamps used
for ordinary purposes by having a hole punched through them. Two sizes of
hole are found — (a) measuring about 3 mm. in diameter ; (b) measuring about
4 mm. in diameter. All the stamps issued between 1854 — I886 are known to
have been so punched. Most of them are known with both variety (a) and (b),
and many are known with two holes in one stamp caused, presumably, the same
as a double surcharge. Mr. C. J. Phillips, in the Monthly Journal, gave a list
upon which I cannot improve. I would strongly recommend collectors to take
no copies of (so-called) official stamps, unless they are at least upon part of the
original covers on which they were cancelled, and each one must use his own
judgment as to whether the hole was punched before or after the cancellation
of the stamps. I have come across specimens with holes of all sizes and many
shapes : circular, oblong, triangular, and square.

In general collections such as are often offered for sale, it is almost dis-
heartening to see the poor show Western Australia makes. They are amongst
the prettiest stamps worth collecting, and they are stamps well worthy of much
greater attention than many of those which have been so eagerly fought for at
auctions during the last two seasons. The London Society's book "Oceania "
gave a great impetus to Australian stamps generally, but Western Australians
seemed to have been too late in the alphabetical list to come in for their fair
share of otherwise liberally bestowed treatment.

FRANCE: 20c. 1870 (BORDEAUX).

321

^trance : 20c. 18%0 (^Bordeaux).

By Ad. Reinheimer.
(Translated from the Deutsche Brief marken Zeitung).

LTHOUGH all German and foreign catalogues give above stamp in three
types, one seldom sees any in collections.

Even in large collections this stamp is generally represented only
by one type, at the most by two types. The reason why these undoubted
type-varieties are not more studied or collected like those of other
countries (I mention only Bavaria 6 Rr. with broken circle, Dutch
unpaids, U.S. of America II., III., and IV. issue, the different types of
surcharges, &c. &c.) is, in my opinion, that it is so difficult to define the types
clearly.

Even now, after they have been described in long and explicit articles, and shown
by M. V. Robert enlarged on the screen, there is still the want of a simple, clear defi-
nition by which to class the different types, and to be able to say at once this is
type I., II., or III.

All the well-known catalogues so far simply gave the size of the letters as principal
guide for the different types, for instance —

Senf Type I. thin lettering

,, II. small ,,

,, III. large ,,

P. Kohl ., I. thin ,, bad executiou.

,, II. small ,,

,, III. larger ,,

,, IV. thicker ,,

Stanley Gibbons ,, I.

„ II.

„ III.

Scott gives three illustrations, which, however, afford little explanation, as
they are too small, and the bad printing in consequence of the large issue gives only
a very imperfect picture.

Moens does not offer a word of explanation in the first type, he simply quotes it
higher in price. The second type he calls type re/ait (retouched) with' small lettering ;
the third type he also calls retouched with larger lettering.

How is it possible for the inexperienced collector to find the four types ? Where
is a certain guide for the different types ?

Even in the fourth type of this stamp the lettering is small and thin, and it is
scarcely possible to say with certainty to which type any of them belong.

By publishing a simple and clear guide, I hope to be able to do away with all the
uncertainty regarding these types. All those that are interested in these types will
be able, after my description, to recognise at once any of the four types.

The size of the letteiing, as well as the oft en -mentioned shading on the neck and
below the eye*, are only marks of identification in the second degree

322 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

In order to make the matter clear to my readers I give the principal point of the
various types enlarged, as Type L, II., and III.

The three drawings show clearly the differences in the Greek ornamentation in the
right-hand bottom corner.

Whether the stamps are printed heavily or not, these differences in the Greek
border are always apparent ; in very heavily-printed stamps the shading may be
invisible, but the principal point of difference (/. e. in the beginning of the border)
can always be seen.

It will be easy for everybody by the help of these drawings to recognise the type
of every 20 centimes stamp, Bordeaux issue. Besides these points of difference the
ordinary points have to be taken into consideration :

Type I. The shading on the neck and under the eye consists of dots, and the
beads of the circle are very irregular.

Type II. The shading on the neck consists of fine lines, and a fine white line is
visible along the back of the head.

Type III. The white line at the back of the head has disappeared ; underneath
the eye the shading is thicker, and all the shading on the neck consists of lines. The
do is between the words of the top and bottom inscriptions are very small, and some-
times disappear altogether.

Type IV. is mentioned in very few catalogues. This is not right, as its existence
has been proved. The Greek border in this type is exactly the same as in type III.,
but the lettering is much bigger, and by the size of the letters this type can be easily
distinguished. The letters are not only longer, but also thicker, so that they nearly
fill the height of the tablets. The whole stamp has the appearance of having been
printed from worn plates ; the white lines of the frame and the circle are broader ;
the spandrils are lighter and not so distinct, in one word — more white paper is
visible.

It is quite possible that, in consequence of the wearing of the plate of the III. type,
the plate was retouched for the third time, and this in itself would be sufficient to
collect a IV. type.

Concerning the grades of rarity of the various types, I classify them as follows
(the lower the number the more common the stamp) : —

UNUSED. USED.

TypeTI 7 5

„ II 4 2

„ III 3 1

„ IV 8 6

Early imp: essions of the four plates are very rare.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Id.

VARIETIES.

323

South Australia &&. Varieties.

By Gko. P. Grignard.

(Translated from the Revue Philatelique Fran$aise.)

DO not know whether anyone has already discovered that the first plate of
the £d. of South Australia was made with two differently-engraved heads ;
I, however, venture to claim this discovery for myself until I get a proof to
the contrary, and to give the same first to the readers of the Revue.

We know that each pane of the first plate of the ^d. of South Australia
contains six horizontal rows of 20 stamps, in all 120 stamps. A sheet con-
sists, I believe, of four such panes. The two engravings are alternately in

the horizontal rows, whereas the vertical columns only contain one of them ; a pane

of 120 stamps has therefore 60 stamps to each engraving.

To facilitate the description one has only to call the first stamp of the first hori-
zontal row Type I., and the second stamp of the same row Type II. By means of a
magnifying glass the following differences can then be found : —

Type I.

The end of the bust in front is pointed,
and touches the last but one line of the
background.

The back of the bust does not touch
the line of the background immediately
under the end.

The shading near the neck extends to
the seventh line of the background (the
line touching the chin not counted).

The twisted hair at the back seems to
be flattened against the line white line of
the frame.

Type II.

The end of the bust in front is less
pointed, and does not touch the last but
one line of the background.

The end of the bust at the back is pro-
longed by a dash, which touches the
horizontal line of the background imme-
diately underneath.

I may say here that this dash does not
always exist. In 60 stamps of this type
I have found it 52 times, the other eight
were without. I have not found it in the
first printings of the plate. This particu-
larity is therefore neither a large nor an
essential difference. However, I have
never found this dash on any of the
stamps of Type I.

The twisted hair at the back does not
quite touch the fine white line of the frame,
and the lines of the background at the
lower half of the hair can be seen.

These differences, though slight, are nevertheless an incontestible proof that two
matrixes have been used for the head of the Queen. I say of the head alone, as the
inscriptions and the rest of the stamps are absolutely the same in both types.

Moreover, the differences which I have mentioned are not the only ones which
have attracted my notice, others exist in the crown, the hair, &c, but they are too
difficult to describe, and add nothing of importance.

My examination is based on the upper left pane of the sheet, but I have every
reason to believe that the three other panes are the same.

This discovery will not stop the earth from rotation. It will be, perhaps, more
appreciated by specialists in Australia, and by our neighlours across the Channel,
than by us ; but it was interesting to me to know that two types exist of the small
stamp of id. of South Australia.

324 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Indian J^ativo States ^tamps.

By Lieut. Madden.

IEUTENANT MADDEN, Hon. Sec. of the North Western Provincial
Philatelic Club, recently read a paper before the Philatelic Society of
Bengal, on Indian Stamps surcharged for Native States.

Some months ago Mr. Stewart- Wilson contributed a paper on Native
States issues to the Bazaar. In that paper he divided the postal arrange-
ments of British India into three classes, viz. : —

(i) The Imperial post.

(ii) The posts of certain Native States working independently as far as their
internal communications are concerned, but at the same time connected Avith the
Imperial post by certain duties and privileges, laid down in formal documents called
" Conventions."

(iii) The purely local and generally very primitive postal arrangements of certain
Native States which have no connection with any other postal system whatever.

After approving of this classification as the only possible one, Lieut. Madden goes
on to say : —

To begin, as he (Mr. Stewart-Wilson) does, with the last first, I would divide
class (iii) into three minor heads : —

(a) Curiosities quite unnecessary for postal requirements, and on a level with
Chinese locals.

(b) Ordinary stamp, ranking with all small States and countries.

Under iii (a) I would place all issues emanating from Bdmra, the recent Bhopal,
Native issues of Faridkhot, Poonch, and some of the still smaller States. In my
opinion the vast majority of these stamps found used have only been postmarked to
order, such as the Wadhwan I produce, while many of these states are reprinted.
Under iii (b) I would classify all ordinary issues of Alwar, Cochin, Holkar, Eajpeepla,
Sirmoor, Deccan, and others. Under the final subdivision of class (iii) must come
foremost " Kashmir," a hard country to study and one well worth the labour, Soruth
and Jhind are also both interesting. Surely the various papers, inks, colours employed
make these countries as interesting as Afghanistan, while the reconstruction of their
sheets are in themselves studies more interesting than the child's play of the English
sheets.

Little has been done by Indian philatelists to the study of the surcharged stamps,
and were more known about them I am certain they would be just as much sought
after as the unending surcharges of Africa, Australia, &c. To commence with, the
various colours employed for surcharging in India we have two only that have been
used; the red being employed as a trial measure, found wanting and dropped. Why
should this be an argument against the Native States stamps, when Turks Islands,
Peru, Philippines, Costa Eica, and many not such good stamps as those we have
under discussion are eagerly sought after in several colours. Is it the difficulty to get
some that bars them ?

Coming on next to " errors," under this heading I would class —

(i) Use of type from wrong founts.

(ii) Mistakes in spelling.

(iii) Inverted surcharges or double surcharges.

(iv) Spaces inserted in printing where not required.

(i) The use of type from wrong founts is shown in the small A errors. I would
not include the Gwalior vernacular surcharges as errors, as they could not have been

INDIAN NATIVE STATES STAMPS. 325

done by mistake, but I would rather hold them up as the most interesting of Native
(States surcharges.

(ii) Inspecting the sheets before us we find one stamp surcharged " GWALICR "
This cannot possibly be taken for a defective O, as the C with its little cap is complete.
Before proceeding I would here like to point out for the consideration of the members
of the Society that such stamps as 9 pie, \\ annas, 2£ annas are unnecessary for Native
States, and as such should be suppressed ; the 2£ annas stamp recently issued for
Gwalior is quite unnecessary, as it is the stamp for abroad, and Gwalior stamps cannot
carry letters out of India. Our Indian Postal Department, which is so unimpeachable,
as a rule, should really not allow " indents " for useless stamps to be passed.

Other mistakes in spelling are Auttialla which you will see occurs but once in this
panel, and does not occur at all in the top panel. Two stamps above this one you
will see the minor variety Putitialla, and here a curiosity in the shape of " Uttialla ;"
both these latter I would not class as " varieties " even.

The half anna CHMABA, used, finishes my illustration of incorrect spelling.

Inverted surcharges and double printing are, in my opinion, among the rarest of
the " errors " that occur. I have here the double printing in " service." These must
be more uncommon than an error by wrong spelling, or using type from a wrong
fount, as in these latter every sheet printed takes the error, but in the former the
sheet only takes the double impression or inverted surcharge, and is certain to bo
cornered by the first man who sees it. Still it is an error and a hard one to obtain.

I now come to spaces inserted where not required ; these are, I think, legitimate
errors. Perak has one catalogued in Gibbons with space between A and K (page
294 No. 41): surely this £ anna Gwalior is just as much an error as the Perak
stamp is.

The 8 in lieu of S I also consider an error, as the tips of the S are not near
enough to make ink run into the shape of a perfect 8, they would be blurred, whereas
all these 8's I show are perfect figures. In conclusion, I would like you to examine
these sheets of Gwalior ; you will not find an error, or minor variety on them, so
perfectly have they been surcharged, which speaks volumes for the care which is taken
with these stamps, which are an interesting group in themselves. They will take
considerable time to obtain both used and unused, and will repay any study spent on
them, and when better known are certain to take a higher place in the minds of
philatelists. Till then let us study them, so that when their day comes we shall be
ready and shall have treasures of our own.

326 THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

"RevieiDs.

Ewen's Catalogue of English Stamps.

The Standard Priced Catalogue of the Postage and Telegraph Stamps and Postmarks
of the United Kingdom. No. 5. November, 1896. Compiled and published
by H. V Estrange Ewen, 32, Palace Square, Norwood. 218 pp. Price 2/6.

The plan is comprehensive and clear. Book I. Part I. deals with adhesive
postage stamps; Part II. telegraph stamps ; Part III. fiscal stamps ; Part IV.
stamps of restricted franking power, e.g., issues for the Levant, for government
department, and for private persons ; Part V. minor varieties of design,
watermark, and perforation ; Part VI. stamps of which no regular issue was
ever made, e.g., essays, proofs, &c. ; Part VII. stamps issued privately, e.g.,
stamps issued by colleges, delivery companies, railways, private telegraph and
telephone companies. Book II. is devoted to the vexed but interesting
question of postmarks.

Of this plan of his Mr. Ewen in his preface says : —

Former editions, apart from their incompleteness, have heen written for advanced specialists ;
the method of arrangement, and the inclusion of minor varieties, having tended to confuse and
dishearten the beginner. "Whereas the collector of thirty years ago ignored varieties of paper,
watermark, and perforation, we. at the present day, not only collect these, hut many collectors
also devote much time and trouble to the study of every minor variety, whatever its nature. As
opinions differ as to the collectability of many such varieties, we have in the present edition
separated them from the regular or ' standard ' issues. Minor varieties are frequently due to a speck
of dust or a hair on the plate, or to the sheets of paper being placed upside down during the
process of printing, thus causing the stamps to have an inverted watermark, or to some act of
carelessness. "Whether such varietie s are really worth any attention at all is open to doubt, and
we have excluded them from the principal catalogue, although they are fully described later on.

Those minor varieties which require for their recognition a powerful
microscope and an equally powerful imagination are best secluded from
general view in a chapter to themselves. Whether Mr. Ewen has removed all
the ''minors" to their proper place may be open to question. Some of the
so-called double letters require a vast amount of primitive faith. These,
however, are minor matters after all. We are more fairly concerned with the
book as a whole. And as a whole the catalogue is excellent — excellently
printed, excellently planned, and clear and concise in its details. The
" notes" to each issue are specimens of what such notes should- be.

The pricing is a detail of the controversial kind upon which we dare not
enlarge for fear of tumbling into a hornet's nest. We merely observe that
many things are left unpriced, notably some unused.

Another controversial detail is the question of British stamps used abroad,
sometime since nicknamed " Colonial English." In this matter Mr. Ewen is
a bit shaky. We find him in one place making the admission that "these
varieties are undoubtedly interesting, but to say that the postmark alters or
decides the nationality of the stamp, as some collectors do, is ridiculous" and
we say " hear, hear." But later on he says, in the smallest of small type, in a
foot note : —

The whole question turns on whether the country issuing the stamp received for its own use
the whole or part of the revenue derived from the sale of it. Jf this was the case, then the
nationality of the stamp was changed ; but as a matter of fact the post offices of which we
write were as much British as those established within the borders of the United Kingdom, the
whole revenue derived from the sale of stamps going into the British exchequer.

In our humble opinion the postmark, under no circumstances, can be held
to alter the nationality of a stamp.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

327

J)[aooltioQ and discoveries.

Brazil. — A 200 reis unpaid letter
stamp has been issued of the same design
as the current 2000 reis. Perf. 11£.

Adhesive

Unpaid Letter Stamp.

200 reis, lilac.

British Central Africa.— It seems
that the long rectangular fiscals used
postally which we chronicled in
October (page 277) were due to the
industry of a postal official who also
acted as revenue officer The following
letter received from Messrs Whitfield
King & Co. explains matters : —

November 13th, 1S93.

Siks, — I have the honour to inform you in
reply to your enquiry of yesterday, that none
of the Revenue stamps of British Central
Africa were ever used postally.

The one you sent me has been taken off an
old expired licence, and has been improperly
obliterated.

There is a special stamp issued to cancel
Revenue stamps, and in addition. Revenue
Officers are instructed to write the date across
the stamp.

In the case in question the Revenue Officer
at Port Herald is also postmaster, and the
mistake has thus arisen.

I return the stamp returned for me to see.

I have the honour etc.

J. E. McMasteu,
Postmaster General, B.C. A.

We may add that we have seen several
of the stamps in question in the possession
of our publishers and Messrs. Stanley
Gibbons, and in no case was there any
writing across the stamp indicating fiscal
use, the only obliteration being that of an
ordinary postal cancellation. Perhaps
the said Postmaster of Port Herald will
explain matters further.

According to the Australian Philatelist
the current series is now watermarked,
the values up to Is. being on Crown and
C.A. paper, and the higher values on
Crown and C.C. paper.

British Guiana.— The Monthly Jour-
nal chronicles a vertical pair of the ' ' One
Cent" on I dollar, of 1890, each stamp
of which shows two impressions of the
red surcharge, the one partly covering the
other, but both quite plain and distinct.

A dliesive.
IC, ia red, on i dol., black and green ; double surcharge.

Buenos Ayres.— The Monthly Jour-
nal makes the following announcement :

Our publishers have found, amongst a lot of
stamps recently obtained from the correspond-
ence of a business house in Cordoba, a specimen
of the " in ps./' blue, printed on both sides.
The impression on the face is in dark blue, and
is well centred ; that on the back shows about
three-fourths of one stamp, and one-fourth of
another, in a paler shade, but quite sharp and
well defined. We must suppose that the paler
impression was defective in some part of the
sheet, and that the paper was in consequence
turned over, and put a second time through the
press.

Cham ba.— Our contemporaries chro-
uicle the following current Indian stamps
surcharged " Chamba State." Wink. star.
Perf. 14.

Adhesives.

ia. 6p., bistre, black sur.

2a 6p.. green, black sur.

2r. , brown and rose, black sur.

3r , green and brown, black sur.

5r., purple and blue, black sur.

Columbian Republic— The Ameri-
can Journal of Philately says the current
10 centavos is now printed in bistre on
rose paper.

Adhesive.
ioc, bistre on rose paper.

Ecuador.— Mr. J. M. Andreini has
shown the American Journal of Philately
the current 50 centavos adhesive, sur-
charged diagonally "Diez Centavos."

The Nederlandsch Tijdschrift chronicles
a series of official stamps for 1895 of the
same type as the regular adhesives of the
same date, but printed in gray and over-
printed in carmine " Franqueo Oficial."

AdJiesive.
ioc. on 50c. dark blue, carmine surcharge.

Official Stamps.

ic gray, carmine surcharge.

2C gray, carmine surcharge.

5c. gray, carmine surcharge,
ioc. gray, carmine surcharge.
20C. gray, carmine surcharge.
50c. gray, carmine surcharge.

is. gray, carmine surcharge.

Finland.— To the values, perf. 14,
chronicled by us in August (page 222),
the Timbres Poste adds the 1 mark —
at least we take it that what it chron-
icles as 13£ is the same. Will some
correspondent inform us whether the new

32<

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

perf. on the 1 mark is 13^ or 14 as in the
other values.

Great Britain.— Mr. Ewen reminds
us that the surcharge "Army Official "
on the 2^d. is in a different type, and
that therefore the error which we chron-
icled last month of "OFFICIAI" for
" OFFICIAL " on the £d. and Id. values
is not likely to recur on the 2Jd.

The Times newspaper of the loth
September, 1896, has the following very
interesting communication concerning
our embossed 2Jd. envelope for foreign
correspondence : — ■

Mr. Frederick Green writes from Thornfield,
Tunbridge Wells : — " The envelopes with
embossed stamps for foreign letters sold by
the Post Office have several admirable qualities,
but one defect so serious that anybody who has
once used them will not do so again. Though
light, cheap, tough, and convenient in size, they
are perfectly transparent, so that the part of a
letter inside and in contact with the envelope
is as legible as if uncovered. Early in 1894
Mr. Griffith-Boscawen, M.P. for the Tonbridge
Division of Kent, called the attention of the
Postmaster-General, Mr. Arnold Morley, to the
matter by a question in the House of Commons.
The defect was admitted, and tbe answer was
that when the stock in hand was exhausted a
new issue without the defect complained of
would be made, and it was added that the new
issue would be made in about two years' time.
However, this Session, when the two years had
elapsed, and the same inquiry was made by the
same member, the answer was that there was
little demand for the envelopes, and it would
take ten years to exhaust the stock in hand. That
is a long time to wait. But if the Post Office
would make an immediate sacrifice of the
practically unsaleable stock they would suffer
but little loss, while tbe puhlic would be
gainers. The Department sell these envelopes
at the rate of ten for 2s. 3d., which, after
deduction of 2s. Id. for the ten 2£d. stamps,
leaves 2d, as the cost of the envelopes alone, or
one-fifth of a penny apiece. If, therefore, the
stock consists of half a million, then the value
at the selling price would be a little over £400,
and the cost price or loss to the department
probably £300. Evidently, unless pressure be
brought to bear on the Post Office the public
will not have what it wants. I trust, therefore,
you may find room in The Times for this letter.

Hayti.— Mr. Gremmal has shown the
American Journal of Philately, the 2c.
dark purple of the 1883 issue with
perf. 13^.

Adhesive.
2C. dark purple, white paper, perf. 13^.

I ndo-China.— Messrs. Whitfield King
& Co. send us the 5 francs in violet, with
name in tablet in blue.

Adkesives
5 fr., violet, name in blue.

Morocco. — According to the Monthly
Circular the French postage due stamps
chronicled as surcharged in Spanish cur-
rency for use in the French post offices of
Morocco, are to be superseded by a new
issue at the end of the present year.

New South Wales.— The Australian
Philatelist says a sheet of the current 3d.
has escaped vertical perforation. It would
be interesting to know whether that
sheet has been secured unused or whether
it has been passed into use.

Adhesive.
3d. green, imperf. vertically.

A correspondent in this Colony has
sent the Monthly Journal a cutting from
the Sydney Morning Herald of August
22nd, showing that the Id. Postcard has
undergone similar changes to those which
took place in the l^d. card, earlier in
the year :

New Penny Postcard. — It is announced
that the introduction of a new penny postcard,
of size and design in conformity with the
regulations of the Universal Postal Union,
has been approved. In the new issue the
waratah ornamentation has been omitted from
the face of the card, and an emblematic
waratah and leaves substituted for the words
'One hundred years ' in the tablet below the
central circle in the stamp denoting the value.

Postcard.

id. lilac on white ; without Waratah at left.

Orange Free State. — Following
closely upon the heels of the "^d."
provisional which we chronicled last
month (pp. 303, 304, 305), we have
another for the same value, but sur-
charged " Halve — Penny" in two lines,
with a bar presumably intended to
obliterate the original value. These
second provisionals like those surcharged
in figures are on the 3d. stamp. The
stamps are printed in four panes of
60 stamps each, the two top and two
lower panes being evidently surcharged
separately. Upon examining a sheet we
find one error, an inverted " n " in
" Penny," and another variety with the
full stop omitted after "Penny." The
inverted " n " occurs in the first stamp in
the fourth row of the top left-hand pane
and is repeated in the same position in the
lower left-hand pane. The omitted stop
occurs in the last stamp of the top right-
hand pane, and is repeated in the same
position in the lower right-hand pane.
The surcharge is in black ink and
measures " Halve " 8|mm., and "Penny "
including the full stop, barely 10mm.

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES.

329

The relative position of the two words
'" Halve " and " Penny " varies.

Adhesives.
\<\. on 3d blue, black surcharge.

Varieties.

Jd. on 3d. blue, black surcharge inverted " n."
|d. on 3d. blue, black surcharge, omitted stop.

Sirmoor.— The Philatelic Journal of
Great Britain says, " We have received
some copies of the official stamps with a
fresh setting up of the surcharge. The
stamps are the old issue, head in centre,
the new issue, elephant in centre, not
having yet been surcharged. The sur-
charge is the usual " On S. S. S.," but
smaller, and is a fresh setting up. The
3p. is set up in blocks of 20 (two rows of
10), and there are the following varieties :
— No. 1 has the ' s ' at bottom vertically
under the ' o ' of 'on.' No. 11 has the
' s ' at the left inverted, and the stop too
high, and Nos. 16 and 17 have the stop
after the right hand ' s ' too high. The
6p. are set up in 10 varieties (one row).
We also found a block of the 3p. with
surcharge inverted." The London Phi-
latelist in addition, chronicles the 3p.
orange, and the same with surcharge
inverted.

Adhesives.
Official Stamps.
2p., red and black.
3p., orange.

4P-, orange and black, yellow tinted paper
6p.. carmine and black rosy tinted paper

I 'ariety.
3p., orange, sur. inverted.

South Australia. — The Monthly
Journal says the ^d. stamp is now issued
perf. 13.

Adhesive.
Jd., brown, perf, 13.

Transvaal.— What appears to us to be
a curious error escaped our notice when
chronicling the new 10s. brown, last
month (p. 306). We omitted to note that
in the label of value, the value instead of
being "10 shillings'' is printed as "10
shilling," which is an obvious error, and
will need correction.

Our Monthly Packets of
New Issues.

No. 1 , price one shilling (postage extra).

The December packet contains —
SIX VARIETIES, ALL UNUSED.

No. 2, price five shillings (postage extra).

The December packet contains —
EIGHT VARIETIES, ALL UNUSED.

These packets aieon sale until December 31st (unless
the supply is previously exhausted) and are supplied
only to Subscribers to the Philatelic Record and
Stamp News. Similar packets will be on sale every
month, and may be subscribed for in advance for the
year (January to December inclusive), at the following
rates : — No. 1 packet 12s., post free. No. 2 packet.
60s., postage extra.

The subscription to the paper (3s. per annum) is
extra. — Buhl & Co, Limited, 11, Queen Victoria
Street, E.C.

The earliest information as to New Issues will be much appreciated by us, and will be duly credited

to the correspondent, or firm, sending it. Our foreign correspondents con

materially help us in this direction. When possible, a specimen

should accompany the injormation, and be addressed to

the Editor Mr. Edward J. Nankivklu,

28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon.

33°

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

philately in the JffaQs.

Official Stamo Dealers in Victoria.

The Sydney Bulletin recently announced
the discovery of what it curiously termed
' ' unauthorised and scandalous trading by
certain individuals at the Melbourne
G.P.O.," and it added the following
particulars : —

An unsuitable issue of 2s. stamps in dark
green was made last year, and after eight days
the issue was officially stopped, 150 sheets of
unsold " specimens " being condemned to de-
struction. Immediately the stamp collector's
price for the few specimens that had gone into
circulation rose to a fancy figure, and dealers
bought and sold them as genuine rarieties.
Meanwhile the condemned sheets were privately-
disposed of by two or more officers of the G-.P.O.,
who, without absolutely robbing the Depart-
ment— for they substituted ordinary 2s. stamps
in place of the obsolete ones they were selling —
made a shilling or eighteenpence premium on
each item in the illicit deal. ^

The sequel — a very satisfactory one
from the philatelic point of view — is sup-
plied by an Australian Correspondent to
the Stamp Collectors7 Fortnightly. He
writes : —

We have received the following by the latest
mail from our Australian correspondent: — Some
rather shady transactions have been going on
for some time, it appears, among certain officials
in the postal and public service of the colony of
Victoria, which has resulted in a departmental
inquiry, and the suspension of Messrs. C. Mork-
ham, comptroller of stamps ; W. H. Sinnott,
chief distributor ; A. Coulson and H. C. Trey-
vaud for trafficking and illegally disposing of a
quantity of obsolete stamps. When the mail
left, on 20th October, only one of the culprits
had been examined, but the evidence brought
out showed that several sheets of the Is. 6d.
blue (1889 issue), 4d. carmine with and without
the "stamp duty" surcharge, and some of the
yellow-green 2s. withdrawn in September, last
year, after being in issue only a few days, were
obtained by false representations, and disposed
of to some of their friends and offered to dealers.
The department appears to have been conducted
in a very loose manner, and a searching inquiry
is to be held, which will no doubt have the
effect of preventing similar scandals in the
future.

Canada. 8c. Registration.

The Philatelic Chronicle thinks the 8c.
registration stamp of Canada should be
worth more than it is at present cata-
logued at. Gibbons prices it at 9s. unused,
and 10s. used, and Scott at 10s. unused
and used. Says the Chronicle : —

The total number printed was but 125,000,
but upon an order issued by the postmaster-
general in 1878, all of the supply then on hand,
numbering 75,000, was destroyed. This was
done because the rate was changed and the
8 cent could no longer be put to use. As a
consequence, 50,000 specimens represent the
sum total of the emission. Now nearly twenty
years have elapsed since the remainders were
destroyed, and one can readily see that their
worth is far above catalogue.

Holland, 1867,-Types.

The Nederlaudsch Tijdschrift voor Post-
zegelkunde (Hague), has a very interesting
article on the different types of the 25
and 50 cent stamps of Holland, 3rd
issue, 1867.

The oldest perforation in this issue is
undoubtedly 12£, agreeing with the perfora-
tion of the 1864 issue. Later on the stamps
were perforated 13, 13£ and 14 horizontally,
and at last 10£. This perforation, however,
only had a short duration, because the stamps
tore so easily across.

Now as regards the 2 types, the following
drawings easily show the differences.

Type I

The 2 types of the 5 and 20 cents have the
same characteristics, but in only one perfora-
' tion do both types exist in all values, as the
following tables will show :

Type ].

12^x12 5, 10, 15. 20, 25, 50.

13 x 14 5. 20.

13f x 13i 5, 15.

13]-xl4 5.

14 xl4 5.

Type II.

12^x12 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50.

13 xl4 5, 10.

13i x 13i 5j 10, 15, 20.

13 x 13 5, 10.

13^x14 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.

14 xl4 5, 10, 15, 20.

10ix10 5, 10, 15, 20.

Particular care has to be taken when mea-
suring these stamps only to give the number of

PHILATELY TN THE MAGS.

331

teeth to 20 millimeters, not simply the points,
and if that is done a 14^ or 15 perforation is
impossible.

The 15 cent stamp of the I. issue, pin per-
forated 15, sold recently by auction, the writer
of the article does not believe in, and pities the
poor buyer.

Pitcalrn Island Postal Arrangements.

The Daily Mail gives us an insight
into the postal arrangements of the
Pitcairn Islanders, from which we extract
the following : —

A gentleman, now in London, was once on
board a ship deputed to carry the Pitcairn mail
for Tahiti, and below he tells how it was done.

" We left San Francisco in the ship City of
Hankow, and were off Pitcairn Island on
Christmas Day. Only about one ship makes
the island, and as we should lose no ground
by waiting a few hours, we hove to and
signalled to the shore. Then the two boats
came off with two loads of vegetables. The
governor of the island came off and asked us
to carry some letters to Tahiti.

" We smiled at first, but when he produced
seven letters and told us that there was no
other way to send them we consented, and
started on our journey again.

" Those letters were the cause of a good deal
of inconvenience. When the captain landed at
England he took the letters ashore and went to
the postmaster. Then he was informed that
he must make an affidavit, and must apply to
the postmaster-general for sevenpence, the
tariff for carrying letters from countries not in
the postal union. Eventually the letters were
handed in at the Falmouth post-office, after we
carried them about 13,000 miles.

" From Falmouth they went to Southampton
and were sent in the usual course of events to
New York, another 3000 miles. They then
crossed to San Francisco, and were put on
bowl one of the Australian steamers, and put
off at the nearest point to Tahiti, their des-
tination. The remainder of their journey was
covered by a small boat. In all, the letters
travelled a distance of over 25,000 miles, and
occupied four months and a half en route. The
distance between Pitcairn and Tahiti, it should
be said, is 1,200 miles.

Abyssinian Postal Arrangements.

We take the following from the Monthly

Circular : —

The Courier des Timbres-poste gives some
curious information regarding Abyssinia, which
is stated to have been received from a friend
who has just returned from that country. The
monetary unit is the thaler of Maria Theresa,
which is worth about 4s., divided into 100
piastres of silver alloy, the piastre being rather
smaller than a half-franc piece. He had never
heard of " guerche " as a coin; and, according
to him, the values of the stamps were \ piastre,
£ piastre, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 piastres. The thaler
and piastre were the only moneys in metal that
were in use in Abyssinia, and for small sums

the payment was made in blocks of salt, the
value of which increased according to the
distance from the sea or the salt lakes.

As to the postal arrangements, there are two
post offices, and two only, in Abyssinia, one at
Harar, and the other at Entotto, and correspond-
ence is only sent between these two towns, and
from Harar to Djibouti. At Harar the service
is gratuitous, and is done by the French
Capuchin fathers, who sell the stamps and
prepay the letters. The mail is made up in
bags duly sealed, and is conveyed by two
Abyssinians mounted on mules. This is as
regards the transport from Harar to Djibouti ;
but from Djibouti to Harar it is by French
couriers, who travel on camels, and take three
days and three nights for the journey.

We have not given a translation of the
article, but only a summary — sufficient, how-
ever, to show that if the account is correct,
there is no great necessity for the array of
postage stamps, &c, with which we have been
lately favoured. We were told that a new
coinage had been made in Paris. Is this to
supersede the small change of the piastres,
which, being in small blocks of salt, cannot be
very convenient to carry in one's purse.
Surely there must be some metallic change for
a piastre worth about 2jd.

The truth would seem to lie in this, that the
values are in " piastre," the Amharic of which
is " guerche," in the same way as we find a lira
equivalent to a franc, or astotinka to a centime ;
but that a stamp of j guerche has to be paid
for in salt we can scarcely credit.

Gibraltar: Obsolete Issues.

The Monthly Journal publishes the
following from the Gibraltar Chronicle
and Official Gazette for October 8 : —

PUBLIC NOTICE.

The following stamps of obsolete issues,
which are unfit for use through the Post, but
may be of value to Collectors, may be obtained
on application at the Colonial Treasury, where
the stamps can be seen daily during office
hours : —

104 specimens of 75 centimo stamps.
61 ,, 1 peseta „

18 ,, 5 „ ,,

Offers for the purchase of any or all these
stamps should be in writing, and should be
addressed to the Cashier, Colonial Treasury.
Offers will be dealt with strictly in the order
in which they are received, and no offer under
the face value will be accepted.

By order of His Excellency the Governor,
H. M. Jackson,
Colonial Secretary for Colonial Treasurer.

Colonial Treasury, 8th October, 1896.

Major Evans presumes that these
stamps are damaged in some way, have
lost their gum, perhaps, and that they
are not pronounced " unfit for use "
simply because they may not be of the
latest pattern.

332

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

Columbian Dollar Values.

Mr. A. C. Townsend informs the
Weekly Philatelic Era that on the
1st October there were on hand at the
Washington Post Office the following
quantities of Columbian Dollar Stamps: —

$2 Columbians . 3002
$4 Do. . 3437

$5 Do. . 4581

Mr. Townsend adds: — "It is quite a
problem as to whether any of us will live
to hear the welcome words ' All gone '
spoken about these stamps." All in good
time our American friends will learn that
commemorative rubbish is about as bad
an investment as can be found.

Zanzibar Issues.

The following interesting letter appears
in a recent issue of MekeeVs Weekly Stamp
News in defence of the various surcharges
which have appeared, and which some
folks have been in such a great hurry to
condemn.

Dear Sir, — I saw a statement in your paper
that the Zanzibar provisional surcharges are
unnecessary and speculative. When the facts
about this matter become known, I hope you
will change your opinion. For years Zanzibar
had no postal administration of its own, and the
post-office was controlled and administered by
the Bombay office. The business transacted
had of late become of so much importance that
the Sultan's government wished to benefit by
the revenue derived from it, and proposed that
the post-office should be handed over to them.
This was done, the stock of Indian stamps
taken up at cost price and surcharged Zanzibar.
The exact date of transfer was November 15th.

Before this the administration of the British
East Africa Co. had been taken up by the
Imperial government, and before special stamps
could be prepared for use in the territory,
stamps were obtained from the Zanzibar Indian
office which were surcharged " British East
Africa." The stock, therefore, of Indian stamps
had to be divided between two places and had
besides to provide for purchases which were
not strictly for postal purposes. This resulted
in a rapid depletion of stock and the total
disappearance of the £a. values. This led to
the surcharge on the one anna six pies stamp.
There is not much demand for this value in
India itself, as it does not correspond to any
particular tariff, and was the value of which
larger quantities existed, and could be more
easily spared. This was a very necessary
surcharge, and if not issued would have led to
the exhaustion of the £, 1, 1£, and 2a values,
thereby perhaps demanding the issue of four or
five provisionals on high values, instead of one.

New stamps with the Sultan's head were
ordered, and a fresh supply was ordered from
India. This again gave out in April, and the
postmaster was compelled to issue the 2£ on
la. for Zanzibar, which lasted for two mails.

The Sultan's head had not yet come, and
the British East Africa Protectorate stamps
arrived on May 26. There were no Indian low
values in stock, and the high values were also
few. The postmaster could not exhaust the
2|a, of the Protectorate, surcharging them for
Zanzibar, but had the three low values (J, l,and
2Ja.) thus treated. These again lasted two
mails, until the Indian stamps which had been
indented for came to hand. In July again
there were no 2^a. stamps, and the £ and 2Ja.
of the Protectorate were also out. The post-
master did his best to prevent a provisional
issue. He used up the stamps reserved for
the Postal Union Bureau at Berne for the
mail of Aug. 11th, until on the 15th he had to
overprint the 2a. There were no £a. stamps to
complete the 2^a. rate for letters; as the stock
of the 2J on 2a. was small, and there were still
no signs of the permanent issue, and the stamps
applied for from India might take time in
arriving, the 4£, 5, and 7£a. of British East
Africa were also surcharged " Zanzibar." These
are the most useful values and do not occur in
the Indian set. Their issue prevented the
complete exhaustion of the 2^a., and almost
insuperable embarrassments in consequence.
The supply from India arrived on August 26th ;
a fresh supply of the Protectorate stamps came
on September 10th from London, and the
Sultan's head ten days later. If these stamps
had not come, there would have been even
other provisionals. The postmaster did his best
to prevent any speculation with these various
provisional, selling only a few at a time over
the counter, and the demand increasing, refusing
to sell them at all, ordering them to be plactd
on letters by the po^al clerks. He sold them
at face value, and refused to sell them to dealers,
who failed to get a supply. Hinc iliac lacrymae.
I am afraid. The bona fides of these issues is
further demonstrated by the fact that dealers
and others got a scent of their issue through
Bombay, from people who saw the stamps on
the letters themselves, and that after the lapse
of months.

Capital has been made out of the fact that
there is one postmaster-general for the two
places. They are not small places; they are
almost empires, but they reptesent different
administrations. The British East Afrii a Pro-
tectorate is directly under the Imperial govern^
ment ; Zanzibar and Pemba are under native
rule. The revenue and expenditure of these
places are controlled differently and have never
been amalgamated. One postmaster-general
may be an economical arrangement and nothing
more. It does not necessarily mean one series
of stamps, as the proceeds of the sales do not go
into one pocket.

Yours faithfully,

Julio Ribeiro.

B.C.A. Postal Fiscals.

Under the head of Novelties in this
number we publish a letter condemning
the British Central Africa Postal Fiscals
recently chronicled by us. Here is what

PHILATELY IN THE MAGS.

333

Messrs. Stanley Gibbons have to say in
reply to that letter : —

We carefully examined a number of stamps
that we have bought, which came from the
Postmaster of Port Herald, and although it may
have been contrary to the law for these stamps
to be used postally, we are absolutely convinced
that they were so used.

We have before us some of the 2s. 6d. and
the Is. on £l stamps, and find at least four
different and distinct cancellations, some of
which are similar to those found on the ordinary
postage stamps themselves, issued from and used
in this part. These cancellations we should
describe as follows : — First, the words " Port
Herald," in a circle, and the letters B.C. A. at
the bottom, and the date " My 23 95," in two
lines in the centre ; about the same size circle
as that of the ordinary cancelling stamps of
most English country towns. Second, we find
a larger double-lined circle with the words
" British Central Africa' ' in full, between the two
lines and the date, in one line across the centre.
Third, we find another small but much thicker,
circle containing the name and date, exactly of
the size of the first-named one, but in different
type and with thicker characters. Fourth, we
have the numbers " 852 " in an oblong, enclosed
between an oval of thick bars, somewhat similar
to old English cancellation stamps used about
1850.

We are making some further inquiries into
the use of these fiscal postals, and shall com-
municate with the Postmaster of Port Herald,
and hope to publish here any particulars we can
get in due course. In the meantime, if any of
our customers who have bought these stamps
from us care to return them at the prices they
have paid, we will at once refund the money ;
in fact we should be rather glad to have them

back, because we are sound believers in the
stamps, and consider they will be rarities in a
short time. If any of our customers in South
Africa have any of the other values except the
2s. 6d. and Is. on £1, we shall be glad to nego-
tiate for the purchase of them.

Obviously the Postmaster-General of
British Central Africa will have to settle
this little business with his subordinate of
Port Herald.

The S.S.S.S.

Mr. Basset Hull in the Australian
Philatelist, commenting on the recently
condemned, but beautifully executed,
commemoratives of Uruguay, breaks out
into the following : —

And the beautiful must perish !

What vanquishes men philatelic

Can the merciless breast move not of S.'s
quadruplex ?

Once alone did pity o'ercome him who guides
the suppressors,

Yet at the threshold itself harshly recalled he
the boon.

Not even labels Olympic loved of the Goddess
Minerva,

Famed for the Phidian wrestlers and muscular
throwers of diskos,

Softened the adamant bosom of him who de-
livered the judgment

See, thou ! the gods are lamenting.

Each Goddess with them is lamenting,

That the beautiful must perish, and the perfect
departs !

Yet a death Song upraised by lips of affection
is glorious ;

But Stamps that are mean and base pass un-
sung to the grave.

J{oticQ !

INDEX TO THIS VOLUME.

A Title Page, Contents, and elaborate Index to this

Volume of the Philatelic Record and Stamp News will be

sent out Free with our Next Issue, or may be had

separately, Price 6d., post free.

334

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

philatelic Qossip.

New Canadians.

The report that a new issue of Canadian
postage stamps may be expected before
long gathers force. The latest item of
news in that direction is the following
paragraph in the European Mail : — ■

Hitherto the contract for the engraving and
printing of Dominion notes and postage and
Inland Revenue stamps, has been in the hands
of the British American Bank Note Company,
of Ottawa. The Minister of Finance has, how-
ever, decided to terminate the contract next
year, and tenders have been invited for the
work. The contract will be for five years,
from July 1, 1897, and it is stated to be worth
about $100,000 per annum.

The Saxony 3pf. Sheet.

In August last (p. 230). we announced
that Mr. Castle had, for a sum of £300,
secured at Cologne, an unsevered and
unused sheet of 20 pf., red, Saxony.
According to the Philatelic Monthly and
World the bargain has fallen through
after all, and the sheet has been returned
to the New York dealer (Mr. Albrecht),
who sold it.

The Paris-Russian Postcard.

A good story is told by the Philatelic
Chronicle. A special postcard, which we
have not thought it worth while to men-
tion before, was issued during the Czar's
recent visit to Paris. The card bore on
its address side portraits of the Czar and
President Faure in opposite corners, with
the French and Eussian arms between,
and, underneath the arms, the words
"Paris, 6th Octobre, 1896." As this
inscription violated the regulations under
the Postal Union, an extra charge of 3d.
has been levied upon the cards coming
into this country. It is to be hoped the
Postal Union will, some day, serve tem-
porary commemorative adhesives in a
similar manner.

Garters.

The Philatelic Chronicle is getting very
facetious, as witness the following : —

One of my collector friends has sent me the
following as his impression. " History informs
us that it was in the year 1855 that Victoria,
Queen of Great Britain, first used garters, they
being then of small size. During the next
year, she used the medium size ; but in the
following year (1857), she was obliged to use

the large size. Lest there might be some mis-
apprehension, it might be well to state, the
garters were watermarks and were used on the
fourpenny postage stamps."

Obsolete Trinidads destroyed.

Mr. J. H. Stevens informs the Weekly
Philatelic Era that he has received a letter
from the Postmaster at Trinidad, stating
that all the old issue of that colony have
been destroyed.

A Novel Arrangement.

Every one to his fancy. Arrangement
is largely a matter of fancy, or taste.
Some will prefer a chronological method ;
others by values. But for novelty, an
American, of course, is easily first. It is
simplicity itself. Does away with such
ricketty and troublesome things as cata-
logues, and albums with marked spaces.
Every stamp in the collection is arranged
in the exact order in which it was obtained.
It is claimed for this plan that no blank
spaces remain to be filled ; there is a space
for every stamp you collect, and no space
for those you don't collect, or have not
got; there are no monotonous pages of
the same design, but a sweet and enjoy-
able confusion; rare stamps crop up as
surprises, like oases in a desert ; and so
on. It must be admitted that this plan
would be hard, very hard to beat — for
absurdity

Transvaal Postal Deliveries.

The Westminster Gazette gives the fol-
lowing account of the inauguration of
postal deliveries in the Transvaal : —

A house-to-house delivery of letters has only
lately been inaugurated in Johannesburg, and
one of the Transvaal papers gives an interesting
description of the glorious time the postmen
had on the first day of the delivery in question.
The postmen, it seems, had no uniforms because
they were not finished, bat each carried a large
canvas bag marked in black letters. They
could not " rat-tat," mainly because knockers
are not in fashion in Johannesburg. Then it
turned out that a large proportion of the letters
posted for delivery on this particular day bore
fictitious addresses. One unhappy postman was
found demanding " No. 44" of all the world.
" This is an awful job," he said ; " there's No.
42 and there's No. 46, but there are no houses
in between." Many of the houses were not
numbered, and the residents had no idea what
number they themselves lived at. In a large

PHILATELIC GOSSIP.

335

number of cases the postman was treated —
under a mistaken idea of his mission— to the
warm welcome usually accorded to a process
server. It was estimated that the first morning
delivery in Johannesburg would be completed,
as far as it ever would get completed, about
midnight !

U.S. Envelopes.

The following announcement by Mr.
Bartels, of "Washington, in MekeeVs Weekly
Stamp News will interest collectors of
United States Envelopes in this country :

I wish to take this opportunity to announce
that we are preparing an up-to-date list of entire

U.S. envelopes which will be published some time
next month. It is our desire to have it abso-
lutely complete, and for this purpose request
the co-operation of envelope collectors through-
out the country. "We shall endeavour to give
the market value for unused and used, entire
and cut square, which will, no doubt, add much
to the value of the work. Ouly envelopes
regularly issued to the public will be chronicled,
and all sample issues which only exist sur-
charged " Specimen," such as the 4c. green on
blue and oriental buff, will be omitted. Parti-
cular attention will be paid to the newly dis-
covered dies and the 1894 to 1896 issues, which
have never been listed. Lend your aid in
trying to supply one of the , greatest needs in
philatelic literature.

"33'3®^@^33yF=r .

Correspondence.

The Stamps of Egypt.

Sir, — I have read with much interest
the article on the stamps of Egypt by
Mr. G. B. Duerst, published in the
Philatelic Record, and I pray you to
permit me to correct an error into
which all writers have fallen — from
Mr. J. B. Moens in his pamphlet on the
"Timbres d' Egypt" to Scott in the
magnificent Catalogue for Advanced
Collectors.

In the classification of the Egyptian
stamps, and describing third issue of 1st
January, 1872, Mr. Duerst falls into the
same error. He says that the stamps
are printed lithographically.

It may be easily discovered on ex-
amining these stamps, that they are
printed typographically, for they show the
special character of typography in the
cavity, more or less visible, caused by the
pressure of the types : besides which the
inking in typography shows a little
thickness that is never met with in
lithography, in which process the surface

of the paper presents an entirely smooth
surface.

Each stamp shows the usual type to
which for every denomination have
been joined the lateral labels bearing the
figures aud inscription of value, and the
junction of the labels is shown by the
little white lines that are different in
nearly all the stamps, whilst if they were
made in lithography the lines would be
all equal in every denomination.

The 5 paras in the article is said to
have been printed in Cairo, by native
printers, and " not a single stamp is
correct, centres and labels are all mixed
up and the stamps are all over the sheet
in a glorious confusion. " This confusion
is due precisely to the amalgamation of
the typographical cliches by inexperienced
workmen.

The marginal ornament also clearly
shows that the stamps were typographed
and not lithographed. — I remain, &c,

Pio Fabri.

Eome,

20th Nov., 1896.

336

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

J^otablo Stamps at Ruction.

Unused are distinguished by an asterisk.

£ s. d.
BUHL &. Co.,

3rd, 4th, and 5th November,
/8q6.

Cape of Good Hope, wood-
block, id. red*
Colombia. 1862, 1 peso

violet* ...
Great Britain £5 orange...
United States, Periodicals,

6 dols *

Ditto, Ditto, q dols* ...
Ditto, Ditto, 12 dols* ...
Ditto, Ditto, 24 dols.* ...
Ditto, Ditto, 36 dols.* ...
Ditto, Ditto, 48 dols.* ...
Ditto, Ditto, 60 dols.* ...

3 7

2 4

3 5
3 15
3 5
5 o

CHEVELEY &. Co.

2nd November, i8q6.

Great Britain, oct. is * ...
Oldenburg, 2nd issue i/.3gr.
Buenos Ayres, ship 3p.

green ...
Nevis, Litho, 6d *...
New Brunswick, 6d.*
Ditto, 6d and^3d. = 7^d.

476
15 10 o

£ s. d.
Wm. HADLOW.

qth and 10th November, i8g6.

Ceylon, 8d brown, imperf. 800

Newfoundland, 6£d. car-
mine red* ... ... 7126

Spain, Madrid, 3 cuartos,

bronze* ... ... 11 o o

Confederate States,Athens,
5c. purple, strip of four 45

France 1 fr. orange

New Brunswick, £ 6d.

orange

Ditto, 6d. orange

Ditto, two copies, one on

entire ...

Newfoundland, 4d car-

mine red

16th and 17th November, i8g6.

Ceylon 4d. rose, imperf...

Ditto, 8d. brown, cut

Ditto, 2s. blue

Ditto, 8d. brown*

Ditto, 8d. yellow-brown,

perfs cut

Ditto, 2r. 50c*

India, \ anna red ...

New Zealand, 6d. black

brown, pelure perf.*...

Ditto. 6d. red - brown,

perf., N.Z. wmk.

£ s. d.
VENTOM, BULL X COOPER.

12th and 13th November, i8g6.

Afghanistan, 1292. Abasi,

black pair* ... ...880

British Columbia, 1 dol.

green, perf. 12^* ... 3 o o
British Guiana, first issue,

8c. green ... ... 31 o o

Ditto, 1856, 4c. crimson 660
Canada. i2d. black ... 22 o o

Great Britain, V.R. ... 12 5 o

Ditto, 2d. blue, no lines* 400
Ditto, 10s. grey -green.

cross* ... ... ... 2T o o

Montserrat, 4d blue, CA. 300
New Brunswick, is. violet 850
Newfoundland, is. orange,

cut _ ... . 5 5o

Nova Scotia, is. violet cut 800
St. Vincent, 4d. on js.,

vermilion ... ... 10 10 o

Spain, 1850, ior. green* ...440
Ditto, 1852, 2r. red ... 12 10 o
Ditto, 1853. 2r. red ... 6 10 o
Turks Islands, 2% on is.

dull blue ... ... 10 o o

Ditto, 4d. on ts. prune 3 10 o

Tuscany, 6ocr. brown-red 7 15 o

Wurtemburg, 70k. violet... 315 o

Ditto, 70k. violet-rose ... 215 o

J^otlOQQ.

Editorial Cpmmu n ications.— Articles of

All communications on Editorial matters should be
addressed to the Editor, Mr. Edward J. Nankivell,

28, Birdhurst Rise, Croydon. Letters enclosing valuable
should be registered.

Subscriptions.— The Philatelic Record and
Stamp News will be sent post free to any subscriber
at home or abroad, on receipt of 3s. Subscribers'
remittances should be sent to the Publishers, Messrs.
Buhl & Co., Limited, ii Queen Victoria Street,
London, England.

Our Advertisement Rates.- Price per Insertion, net.

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Accounts for a series payable quarterly. Single insertion payable in advance.

Enquiries connected with the Advertisement pages should be addressed to Mr. E.J. Nankivell, 28, Bird-
hurst Rise, Croydon.

Advertisements must be received not later than the 15th of the month for publication in the next issue.

END OF VOL. ii

CHARLES JONES. PRINTER. LONDON

INDEX

ABBREVIATIONS.

A. Articles; C. Correspondence ; E. Editorial Notes ; F. Forgeries and Reprints; G. Philatelic Gossip
N. Novelties and Discoveries ; P. Philately in the Mags ; R. Reviews; S. Stamp Trade Notes.

Abnormal Varieties of Great Britain, A 5.
Abyssinian Postal Arrangements, P 331.
Advanced Collectors. Catalogue for, R 75.
Advancing Prices, E 178 ; P 191.
Advertising Dodge, G- 87.
African, East, Protectorates, E 235.
Aged Postmistress, G 200.
Aggregate Printings of U.S. Departmental,

P 113.
Alaska Postal Arrangements, P 138.
Album, novel arrangement, G 334.
Album, Permanent printed, A 211, C 287.
Album up to date (Senf's), R 220.
Albums and speculative issues. C 29. 90.
Alsace-Lorraine, A 30, 05 ; X 188 ; P 252, 309.
American Bank Note Co. proofs, G 172, 199.
American Philatelic Campaigning, G 171.
American Philatelist, Vol. IX., R 106.
American Protest, Speculative Issues, 89.
America, Oldest Magazine in, G 200.
Annual Issues, P 140.
Annual Report, Philatelic Society, London,

P191.
Another big Collection broken up, E 151.
Another dealer Strand-ed, S 263.
Another Philatelic Castle, G 172.
Antioquia, N 251.

Argentine Republic, X 47, 102, 188, 221, 277.
Army Telegraph Stamps, Ashantee, G 201.
Ashantee Army Telegraph Stamps, G 201.
At the " Cripples" again, P 115.
Auction Season, Our next, G 230.
Auctions. 39, 59, 91, 120, 147, 175, 204, 232,

288, 312.
Auctions, Guarantees at, P 83.
Auctions, Society, C 29.
Auction Summary, Hilckes', G 201 ; R 250.
Australian Philatelist, G 117.
Australian Postal Fiscals, P 111.
Australian Prices, P 281.
Australian, Western, Provisionals, P 23.
Austria, N 47.
Austrian Levant, N 47.
Austrian Mercury Question, P 170.
Austrian Xevrspaper Stamps, P 195.
Automatic Post Office, G 201.

Back Numbers, Our, G 262.
Baden, Errors of Colour, P 280.
Badge, Philatelic, G 20.
Baltimore 10c, P 196.

Baltimore 10c, Discovery of, P 84.

Ban of the S.S.S S., G 229.

Barbados, X 135, 102.

Bargains ! Bargains ! P 22.

B.C.A. Postal Fiscals, P 332.

Bechuanaland, F 25, 55 ; A 155.

" Beer and Baccy " Postcard, P 19.

Beginners, Catalogue for, G 87 ; R 250 ; S 262.

Belgian Unpaid Letter Stamps, P 19.

Belgium, X 76, 277.

Belgium, Issues of, 1865, P 51.

Berlin, Private Posts in, P 169.

Be Unfashionable, G 144.

Boston Stamp Booh, Sale of, G 199.

Bi-coloured Colonial Types, E 260.

Birmingham Society, G 311.

Bisected Chilians, G 143.

Bishop, Percy Cassandra, G 56.

Blued Paper,' P 256.

Bolivia; 5 centavos, 1806, P 308.

Booming Xew Issues, C 57, 90; E 34,62;
G 143 ; P. 23.

Boris Bulgarian Issue, P 115.

Borneo. X 17.

Boy's Paper, U.S., G 284.

Brazil, X 327.

Brazil, 1894 Issue, F 28f>.

Bright's A.B.C. Catalogue, R 40.

British Bechuanaland, F 25, 55 ; A 155.

British Central Afiica, X 17, 221, 251, 277,
327.

British East Africa, X 17, 47, 107, 162, 221,
277 ; P 170 ; G 284.

British East Africa and Zanzibar, A 153.

British East Africa Co. Remainders, G 27.

British Empire Postal Arrangements, G 172.

British Guiana, X 251, 277, 327.

British Guiana, die Varieties, P 282.

British Guianas, Find of rare, P 138, 108.

British Levant, X 107, 277; C 201 ; E 178;
F. 286.

British South Africa, X 17, 76, 107, 163, 188,
221, 251,277.

British South Africa Provisionals, A 241 ;
P 229.

Buchanan, yet anotber, G 230.

Buenos Ay res. X 327.

Buhl & Co., Ltd.. Dividend, G 230.

Bulgaria, X 17, 76. 189.

Bulgarian, Boris Issue, P 115.

Bundi State, X. 251.

Burglary of Stamps at Puttick's, E 123.

INDEX.

Calculator, Postage, G 116

Canada. N 13-3, 189, 221, 251.

Canada, Pence Issues, P 224.

Canada, Perforation of Pence Issues, P 255.

Canada, 3c. Registration, P :-530.

Canadians, New G, 334,

Capped, 2c, U.S., 1890, P 52.

Cancellations, Protection of, P 227.

Cancelled to order, Stamps, E 265 .

Cantonals : Switzerland P 309.

Cape of Good Hope, N. 163.

Cape of Good Hope, Error, F. 35.

Cape Wood Blocks, P 282.

Castle, Another Philatelic, G 172.

Castle. Mr on himself. G 116, P 141.

Castles, Conflicting, G 198.

Catalogue, Blight's, A.B-C. P. 46.

Catalogue, Ewen's, of English Stamps, R 326.

Catalogue for Advanced Collectors, R 75.

Catalogue for Beginners, G 87 ; R 250 ; S 262.

Catalogue, New Gibbons, G 310.

Catalogue, Scott's 56th Edition, R 46.

Catalogue, U.S. Plate number, R 220.

Catalogues, Making of, E 34, 207.

Causes of Specialism, P 54.

" Censt " Error of Johore, P 139.

Ceylon, N 17, 189, 221.

Ceylons and Australians, S 263.

Chalmers Myth, End of, E 3.

Chamba, N. 327.

Changes in Victorians, P 82.

Cheap Collections, S 203.

Cheapest Rate of Postage, P. 259.

Chili, N 221.

Chili; Re-engraved (1894) issue, P 227.

Chilians, Bisected, G 143.

Chilians, Specialising, G 285.

Chilians, used and unused, G 57.

Chilians, used in Peru, P 115.

Chilian Varieties, P 53.

China, N 77, 305.

China, Postal Reform in, A 243.

Classification of Collectors, E 315.

Clipperton Island Rubbish, E 64.

Clubs, Exchange, A 69 ; G 27 ; P 22.

Collections, cheap, S 263.

Collections sold, G 27, 28 ; E 151.

Collection, Tapling, G 28.

Collection, The £40,000, P 198.

Collecting Cripples, E 4.

Collecting Plate Numbers, G 26.

Collectors' Classification of, E 315.

Collectors, Training future, E 35.

Collectors, Young, E 205.

Collect, What shall we, P 50.

College, Messenger Stamps, A 72.

Colonial English, P 81 ; E 123 ; P 139.

Colonial, British, Lithographed, G 171; P 224.

Colonial Types, Bi-coloured, E 266.

Colonies, Incorrigible, G 88.

Columbian Dollar Values, P 332.

Columbian Republic, P 257 ; N 327.

Columbian Stamp, G 230.

Coming Season, E 234 ; G 284.

Commemoration Flood, Threatened, E 3.

Commemorative French, G 201.

Commemorative Portuguese, More, E 95.

Commemoratives and the Postal Union, A 214.

Commemorative Stamps, E 63, 236 ; G 87 •

P 138.
Commemorative Stamp, U.S., G 87.

Compound Envelopes, P 84.

Condemn, What shall we, E 122.

Conflicting Castles, G 198.

Congos for Collectors, G 281.

Congo State Stamp Speculation, C 287.

Congress, next Postal Union, P 259.

Continent, Philatelv on the, P 111, 165 ; G 142

Control Letters ; Great Britain, P 85.

Cook Islands, N 163.

Cornered Stamps, P 19.

Cornering, More, in U.S., E 3.

Correspondence, 29, 57, 90, 118, 173, 201, 231,

287.
Counterfeit U.S. 2 cents, F 55.
Cripples, At the, again, P 115.
Cripples, Collecting, E 4.
Crvstal Palace and Philatelic Exhibition, C 231.
Cuba, N 47, 135.
Cuban Insurgents' Stamp, G 117.
Cuban Republic, N 77.
Cuban Republic, Postal System of, P 258.
Cuba T^ stamps, P 85.
Curaoao, N 17, 47, 277.
Curagao, Recent Provisionals, P 114.
Curious Post Offices, A 316.
Curious trial in Paris, G. 27.
Current Business Notes, 119.
Current Market, S 263.
Current South Australians, P 255.
Customs, Indian, Duty on Stamps, E 234.
Cyclone, Mekeels and the, G 172.
Cyprus, N 47, 107, 135, 251.
Cyprus, New, G 88 .
Czar as a Philatelist, G 142.

Daily Stamp^Item, R 220.

Dealer, Definition of, S 263.

Dealer, Great, P 22.

Dealers, Some, and the S.S.S.S., E 179.

Death of Lord Kingston, A 13,

Death of Sir Rowland Hill's Brother, A 295.

Decrease of Good Specimens, G 284.

Defence of the S.S.S.S., E 95.

Definition of a Dealer, S 263.

De la Rue series of Indian Stamps, R 133.

Demonetised U.S. Stamps, P 257.

Departmentals, U.S. Aggregate Printings,

P 113.
Department Stamps, U.S., G 87 ; P 117.
Designs on English Stamps, P 115.
Designs, South Australian, P 260.
Destruction of Hawaiian Remainders, P 195.
Detectives, Stamp Collectors as, E 233.
Diamonds v. Stamps, P 21.
Die Varieties, British Guiana, P 282.
Differences in ]873 and 1882 U.S., P 111.
Dinner. Philatelic Society of London, 146.
Discovery of 10c. Baltimore, P 84.
Doctoring U.S. Stamps, F 203.
Dominican Republic Postal Dragoons, G 27.
Dragoons, Postal, Dominican Republic. G 27.

Early Issues of Western Australia, A 124, 152.

180, 209.
East African Protectorates, E 235.
Ecuador, N 327.
Ecuodorian Pecksniff, G 86.
Ecuador Postal Service, P 85.
Editor, an, takes a Holiday, G 199.

INDEX.

Ill

Editorial Notes, 1, 33, 61, 93, 121, 149, 177,

•205, 233, 265, 289.
Egyptian Post Office, G 200
Egypt, Stamps of, A 236, 267, 291 ; C 335.
End of the Chalmers Myth, E 3.
End of the N.S.W. Swindle, P 21.
End of the Seebeck Issnes, E 150.
England, Levant, 40 Paras, F 286.
English 3d. of 1873, P 21.
English, Minor Varieties, G 23.
English Postage due stamps, G 87.
English Stamps, Designs on, P 115.
Entrance fee, Lond. Phil. Soc, increased, E 63.
Envelopes, compound.
Epidemic of Secret Dots, G 284.
Eritrea, N 77.

Error, Cape of Good Hope, F 55.
Error, Lubeck, of 1859, A 102, 132, 159, 187.
Error, Puttiala, G 88.
Errors of colour, Baden, P 280.
Evans, Major, and the Record. G 171.
Evans, Major, on the S.S.S.S., P 192.
Evans, Major, reply to Masters, P 193.
Ewen, Mr. and his Publications, G 310.
Ewen's Catalogue of English Stamps, R 326.
Exchange Clubs, A 69 ; G 27 ; P sf2.
Exchanges, Stamp, G 199.
Exhibition for 1897. A 243, 275; E 121, 149

177, 235, 265, 289 ; G 147, 198.
Exhibition, Hague, G 198
Exhibibition, London, 1897, Prospectus, 290.
Exhibition, Philatelic, wanted another general

E93.
Exhibitions, Philatelic, abroad, G 117.
Experts, Responsibility of, G 27.

Falkand Islands, N 47. P

Feldpost, German, of 1870, 138.

Fernando Po, N 17. 77, 251.

Fiji, N 252.

Find of rare British Guinanas, P 139, 1G8.

Fined for selling Forgeries, F 203.

Finland, F 55 ; N 77, 222. 327.

First Postage Stamps, A 275.

First Issue Western Australia. A 93, 124.

Fiscals. Australian Postal, P 111.

Fiscals| Postal, B.C. A , P 332.

Forgeries and Bcprints, 25, 55, 203, 286

Forgeries, fined for selling, F 203.

Forgers' Defence, G 27.

Forgers, Hard time coming for, G 28.

France, N 107, 277.

France, lfr. vermilion, P 280.

Fiance, 20c, 1870 (Bordeaux), A 321.

France, Unpaid Letter Stamps, P 113.

French Morocco, X 135.

French, new stamp, A 71 ; G 56 ; P 197.

Future Collectors, Training, E 35.

Gambia, 6d. variety, P 225.

Garbage, Philatelic, G 80.

Garters, G 334.

Geography, Philatelic, E 61.

German, Feldpost of, 1870, P 138.

German S.S.S.S., P 193.

German stamps, Last year's supply, P 283.

Gibbons' Catalogue, Mew, G 310.

Gibbons, E.S , reminiscent, G 171.

Gibraltar, N 17, 107.

Gibraltar, 1869 issue, C 173.

Gibraltar : Obsolete issues, P 331.

Good Story, G 58, 310.

Good time coming, P 20.

Great Britain, N 77, 108, 135, 189, 252, 277,
305, 328 ; F 203.

Great Britain, Abnormal Varieties of, A 5.

Great Britain, Control Letters, P 85.

Great Britain, Early perfs., P 197.

Great Britain, minor varieties, G 28 ; P 83.

Great Britain, 3d. of 1873, P 21, 140.

Great Britain, Stamps of, B 75.

Great Dealer, P 22.

Greece, N 252.

Greece, Olympian Stamps of, A 128; P 170.

Greece, Perfs. 1888-1889, P 309.

Grenada, N 17, 163.

Grenadas, Speculation in, P 196.

Grill all over, U.S., P 196.

Guarantees at Auctions, P 83.

Guatemala, X 108.

Gum, Question of, G 28.

Gum, Varieties of. P 140.

Gwalior, N 189, 23>, 278.

Hague Exhibition, G 198.

Hard time coming for forgers, G 28.

Hawaii, N 108, 305.

Hawaii, Postal issues of, B 106.

Hawaiian Bemainders, Destruction of, P 195.

Ilayti, N 328.

Height of Philatelic impudence, G 311.

Heligoland Bemainders, P 83.

Hilckes' Discoveries, G 144.

Hilckes' Auction Summary, G 201, B 250.

Hill's (Sir Rowland) Brother, Death of, A 295.

Ilolidav, Editor takes a. G 199.

Holland. N 47. 135, 189, 252, 305.

Holland, 1807, Types, P 330.

Honduras, N 17, 108.

Honduras Postal Service, P 84.

Hong Kong, N 77.

How to deal with Scebeclcs, C 29, 58.

How to examine paper, G 26.

How U.S. Periodical Stamps arc obtained.

P54.
Hughes Hughes' Collection sold, G 27.

Iceland, Postage stamps of, A 212.
Illustrations of Postage stamps, E 123, 151 ;

Reports 145. 175.
Imperial Penny Postage, G 201.
Impoverished States Stamps of, A 100 ; P 140.
Impudence, Philatelic, Height of, G 311.
Incorrigible Colonies, G 88.
India, N 18. 108, 135.
India, la, red, first issue, varieties, P 169.
India, Native States, Speculatives 311.
India, Native States Stamps, A 324.
Indian Customs Duty on Stamps, E 234.
Indian Native State Issues, P 53.
Indian Postal Inquisition, C 203 ; E 94 ; P 54.
Indian Stamps. De la Rue series of, R 133.
lndo-China, N 328.
Introductory, E 1.
Inverted Seychelles, P 24.
Italian, Levant, P 259.

Jamaica. N 305.

INDEX.

Japan, N 108, 252.

Japanese Stamps, P 257.

Jeppe, Mr., on Transvaals, P 166.

Johannesburg Society, G 117.

Johore, N 136, 278.

Johore, " Censt " Error of, P 139.

Journal for the Young Collector, G 230.

J. P., Our Philatelic, Gr 199.

Junior Catalogue, S 262.

Kashmir, Remainders, Gr 28.
Kingston, Lord, Death of, A 13 ; P 82.
Korea, more, G 230.

Labuan, N 10S, 305.

Labuans, for Crazy Philatelists, E 290.

La Guayra and St. Thomas, A 1 82.

Leaward Islands, Obsolete, A 99.

Levant, England, 40 paras, F 286 ; C 201 ;

E 178 ; N 277.
Levant, Italian, P 259.

Levant, Roumanian, N 189, 253 ; P 227, 280.
Literature, Philatelic, S 262.
Lithographed, British Colonies, G 171 ; P 224.
London Philatelic Society ; increased Entrance

Fee, E 63.
London Philatelic Society, New President, E

149.
Lost Opportunities, P 309.
Lotteries, Philatelic Society, G 285.
Lubeck, Error of 1859, A 102, 132, 159, 187.
Luxembourg, N 108.
Luxembourg Stamps, G 86.

Maceo, N 189.

Madagascar, N 163, 189, 252.

Making of Catalogues, E 34, 207.

Manchester Philatelic Society, G 261.

Market, Current, S 263.

Masters, Major Evans' reply to, P 193.

Masters, W. E., on Recent Transvaals, C 175.

Mauritius, IN" 18, 47.

Mauritius Postal Report, P 281.

Measurement of perforations, G. 56.

Mekeels and the Cyclone, G 172.

Menacing the stamp trade, E 205.

Messenger, College, Stamps, A 72.

Mexican Poste de Mar Stamps, P 169.

Mexico, N 189, 222, 278.

Mexico, 1866 issue, 50c, F 286.

Minor Varieties, E 266.

Minor Varieties of English, G 28 ; P 83.

Minor Varieties U.S. Bureau, P 283.

Miscellaneous, G 28.

More Commemorative Portuguese, E 95.

More cornering in U.S., E 3.

More Korea, G 230.

More Transvaal Surcharges, G 57.

Morocco, N 328.

Natal, first issue, F 25.
Natal 3d. blue, wmk. Star, C 58.
National Pastime, Philately a, A 9.
Native Indian States Issues, P 53.
Native States of India, Speculatives, 311.
Nevis and St. Kitts, Notes on, A 97.
Nevis 4d. litho., G 117.

Nevis Varieties, P 255.

New Canadians, G 334.

New Cyprus, G 88.

Newfoundland, N 108.

Newfoundland Reprints, F 203.

New French Stamp, A 71 ; G 56 ; P 197.

New Gibbons Catalogue, G 310.

New Issues : Booming, C 57, 90 ; E 34, 02 ;

G 143; P23.
New Issues (see Novelties and Discoveries).
New Issues and Old Issues, E 2.
New President, London Philatelic Society,

E 149.
New South Wales, N 136, 163, 252, 328.
New South Wales " O.S." Reprints, E 62 ;

G144.
Newspaper Stamps, Austrian, P 195.
New Zealand, N 108, 136, 253.
Next Postal Union Congress, P 259.
Nicaragua's Postmarked to order, G 17 1 .
Niger Coast, N 222.
Niggers stamping, G 86.
Norway, N 109, 163.
Norway, 1 ore, varieties. P 226 ; C 287.
Norwegian Stamps, R 250.
Notable Stamps at Auction, 120, 147, 175, 204,

232, 288, 336.
Notes on Nevis and St. Kitts, A 97.
Notices, 32, 60, 92, 120, 176, 204, 232, 264.
Nova Scotia Affliction, G 310.
Nova Scotia, Cents Issue, C 287.
Nova Scotia Remainders, P 256, 281, 307 ;

S 262 ; G 310.
Novel arrangement, G 334.
Novelties and Discoveries, 17, 47, 70, 107, 135,

162, 188, 221, 251, 277, 305.
Nowanugger, N 77.
N.S.W. Recent Issues, P 29.
N.S W. Swindle, End of, P 21.

Obsolete Issues, Gibraltar, P 331.

Obsolete Leeward Islands, A 99.

Obsolete Trinidads destroyed, G 334.

Official Decree, Uruguay, P 85.

Official Notices, U.S., A 73.

Official Speculators, E 4.

Official Stamp Dealers in Victoria, P 330.

Oldest Magazine in America, G 200.

Old Issues v. New Issues, E 2.

Olympian Stamps of Greece, A 128; P 170,

194, 2<>8.
Opportunities, Lost, P 309.
Orange Free State, N 47, 109, 305, 328 ; A 104,

136.
Orange Free State, Provisional, A 303.
Our back numbers, G 262.
Our date of publication, E 314.
Our next Auction Season, G 230,
Our Philatelic J.P., G 199.
Our Programme for 1897, E 313,
Our sorrowing friends, E 33.
Our Subscription rates, E 314.
Outing Philatelic, G 200.

Paper, Blued, P 256.

Paper, How to examine, G 26.

Paper of U.S Stamps, 1870-1885, P 83.

Paper, Ribbed, U.S. on, P 19.

Paraguay, N 164, 222.

INDEX.

Paraguay Stamp Sale, P 85.

Paris, Curious trial in, G 27.

Paris-Russian Postcard, Gr 334.

Passing Strange, G 310.

Pastime, Philately a National, A 9.

Patiala, N 305.

Pecksniff, Ecuadorian, G 86.

Pence Issues, Canada, P 224.

Pence Issues, Canada, Perforation of, P 255.

Penny Postage, Imperial, G 261.

Perak, N 18.

Perforating Machines, Queensland, P 113.

Perforation of Pence Issues, Canada, P 255.

Perforation, Supplying a, G 229.

Perforation, U.S. Bureau, P 258.

Perforations, Early, Great Britain, P 197.

Perforations, Measurement of, G 56.

Permanent Printed Album, A 211 ; C 287.

Personalities, S 263.

Peru, N 77.

Peru, Chilians used in, P 115.

Philatelic Badge, G 26.

Philatelic Exhibition and Crystal Palace, C 231.

Philatelic Exhibitions Abroad, G 117.

Philatelic Garbage, G 86.

Philatelic Geography. E 61.

Philatelic Gossip. 26, 56, 86, 110, 142, 171,

198, 229, 201, 284, 310.
Philatelic Literature, S 202.
Philatelic Outing, G 200.
Philatelic Society Lotteries, G 285.
Philatelic Society, London, Annual Report,

P 191.
Philatelic Society, London, Dinner, 140.
Philatelic World, The, G 230,
Philatelists and U.S., P 53.
Philately a National Pastime, A 9.
Philately in the Mags, 19, 50, 80, 111, J 38,

165, 191, 224, 255, 280, 307.
Philately on the Continent, P 111, 105 ; G 142.
Philippine Island, N 78, 109.
Picked Specimens, G 229.
Pitcavin Island Postal Arrangements. P 331,
Plate Number, Collecting, G 20, 88.
Plates, U.S.. P -20.
Platypus Type, Tasmanian, P 141.
Poland, N 130.

Porte de Mar Stamps, Mexico, P 109.
Porto Rico, N 109, 130.
Portugal, N 253. 300.
Portugal, 1st issue, 1853. F 286.
Portuguese Iudies, On Sale, G 310.
Portuguese, more Commemorative, E 95.
Postage Calculator, G 110.
Postage, Cheapest rate of, P 259.
Postage, due stamps, English, G 87.
Postage, Imperial Penny, G 201.
Postage Stamp Repairers, G 229.
Postage Stamps, First, A 275.
Postal Arrangements, British Empire, G 172.
Postal Arrangements, Pitcairn Islands, P 331.
Postal Arrangements, Abyssinian, P 331.
Postal Dragoons, Dominican Republic, G 27.
Postal Fiscals, Australian, P 111.
Postal Fiscals, B.C. A., P 332.
Postal Inquisition, Indian, P 54 ; E 94.
Postal Issues of Hawaii, R 100.
Postal Reform in China, A 240.
Postal Service, Ecuador, P 85.
Postal Service, Honduras, P 84.
Postal Speculation, St. Helena, P 54.

Postal System of the Cuban Republic, P 258.

Postal Union and Commemoratives, A 214.

Postal Union Congress, next, P 259.

Postcard, " Beer and 'Baccy," P 19.

Postmarked, to order, Nicaraguas, G 171.

Postmistress, Aged, G "200.

Post Offices, Curious, A 310.

Post Offices, U.S., G 285.

Posts, Private, in Berlin, P 109.

Prefatory. F 25 ; E 33, 01.

President, New, London Philatelic Society,

E 1^9.
Prices, E 178 ; P 191.
Primoli's, Count, Collection, G 28.
Printings, Aggregate, of U.S. Departmentals,

P 113.
Private Posts in Berlin, P 109.
Programme for 1897, Our, E 313.
Proofs, American Bank Note Co., G 172, 199.
Pioposed Exhibition in 1897, E 121, 149,

G 142.
Prospectus, London Philatelic Exhibition, 1897.

243.
Protection of Cancellations, P 227.
Protectorates, East African, E 235.
Provisional, Orange Free State, A 303.
Provisionals, British South Africa, G 229 ;

A -241.
Provisionals, Recent Curagao, P 114.
Provisionals, Seychelles, P 82.
Provisionals, Western Australian. P 23.
Publication, Our date of, E 314. '
Publications, Mr. Ewen and his, G 310.
Puttiala Error, G 88
Putticks, Burglary of Stamps at, E 123.

Queensland, N 109, 130, 222, 253, 278.
Queensland, Perforating Machines, P 113.
Queensland, Recent Issues, All.
Queensland " Secret mark " paper, P 141.
Question of Gum, G 28.
Quotation, G 201.

Rarity and value, E 290.

Recent Curagao Provisionals, P 114.

Recent Queensland Issues, All.

Recent Transvaal Issues, C 173.

Record, Major Evans aud the, G 171.

Registration, 3c, Canada, P 330.

Remainders, B. E. A. Co , G 27.

Remainders, Hawaiian, Destruction of, P 195.

Remainders, Heligoland, P 83.

Remainders, Kashmir, G 28.

Remainders, Nova Scotia, P 250, 281, 307 ;

S 202 ; G 310.
Repairers, Postage Stamp, G 229.
Reprints and Re-issues, U.S., A 215.
Reprints, Newfoundland, F 203.
Reprints, N.S.W., '• O.S.," E 02
Reprints of Victoria, F 280.
Responsibility of Experts, G 27.
Reunion, Stamps of, A 41.
Reviews, 40, 75, 100, 133, 220, 250.
Ribbed paper, U.S. on, P 19.
Roumania, N 109.
Roumania 5 bani, Error, P 280.
Roumanian Levant, N 189, 253; P 227, 280.
Royal Mail Packet, 10c. pink, P 192.
Russia, N 109. 130, 222.

INDEX.

Russian Levant, N 109.

Russia, Variety of 20 kop, 1875, P 259.

Sale of Boston Stamp Boole, G 199.

Sales, Stamp, Paraguay, P 85.

Salvador, N 18.

Samoa, N 136, 278.

San Marino, Numbers printed, P 281.

Santander, N 48, 78.

Saxony 3pf. sheet, G 230, 334,

Scott and Mekeel Companies, G 230.

Scott's Catalogue, 56th edition, R 46.

Season, The Coming, E 234 ; G 284.

Secret Dots, Epidemic of, G 284.

Secret Mark Paper, Queensland, P 141.

Secret Mark, U.S., 30c, 1872, P 80, 114.

Seebeck Issues, End of, E 150.

Seebecks dying out, Gr 56.

Seebecks, How to deal with, C 29, 58.

Seebeck' s Reply, E 2.

Seelangor, N 78.

Selangor, Stamps of, A 295.

Servia, IS" 48, 78, 222, 253.

Seychelles, N 306.

Seychelles inverted, P 24.

Seychelles Islands, issues, P 226, N 253.

Seychelles Provisionals, P 82.

Shanghai, N 1 36, 222, 253, 306.

Shylock up -to-date, P 20.

Siam, N 48, 136, 164.

Sierra Leone, N 109, 253, 278, 306.

Sirmoor, N 329.

Slump, Columbian, G 230.

Societies, in Session, 30.

Society Auctions, C 29.

Something of Value, A 318.

South African Philatelist, G 143.

South Australia, JN 109, 329 ; G 143, 222, 253.

South Australia, 2d. orange, wmk. S.A. close,

P 283,
South Australia £d., Varieties, A 323.
South Australian designs, P 260.
South Australians, Current, P 255.
Spain, N 48, 190, 222.
Spain, 1852, P 259.
Spain, 1864, Perf. 12|, P 280.
Specialising Chilians, G 285.
Specialism, Causes of, P 54.
Specimens, Good, Decrease of, G 284.
Speculation, Stamp, Congo State, C 287.
Speculation frustrated, P 198.
Speculation in Grenadas, P 196.
Speculation, St. Helena Postal, P 54.
Speculative Issues, American Protest, 89,
Speculative Issues and Albums, C 29, 90.
Speculators, Official, E 4.
Speculators unloading, G 171.
Speculator, The Stamp, E 314.
S.S.SS., Ban of the
S.S.S.S., German, P 193.
S.S.S.S., in defence of, E 95.
S.S.S.S , Major Evans on, P 192.
S.S.S.S,, Mr. Trifet and the, G 198,
S.S.S.S., Some Dealers and the, E 179.
Stamp Collectors as Detectives, E 233.
Stamping Niggers, G 86.
Stamp Sales, Paraguay, P 85.
Stamps Cancelled to Order, E 285.
Stamps in Washington, P 308.
Stamps of Bechuanaland, A 155.

Stamps of Egypt, A 236, 267, 291 ; C 335.

Stamps of Great Britain, R 75.

Stamps of Impoverished States, A 100; P 140.

Stamps of Reunion, A 41.

Stamps of Selangor, A 295.

Stamp Speculator, E 314.

Stamps that will not stand water, G 26.

Stamps and Diamonds, P 21.

Stamp Trade Notes, 262.

Stanley, Mr., G 310.

St. Helena, N 278.

St. Helena Postal Speculation, P 54.

St. Kitts and Nevis, Notes on, A 97.

Story, Good, G 56, 310.

Strange Customer, G 198.

Straits Settlements, N 110, 222.

Stray Notes on Transvaals, A 126.

St. Thomas and La Guayra, A 182.

Subscription Rates, our, E 314.

Suburban Exchange Club, G 27.

Supplying a perforation, G 229.

Suppression of Speculative Stamps, 89, 118,

264, 311 ; E 122 ; P 333.
Surcharges, more Transvaal, G 57.
Swazieland, F 25, 55.
Sweden, ^ ore vermilion, P 227.
Swindle, N.S.W., End of, P 21.
Switzerland, Cantonals, P 309.
Sydney Views, P 260.

Tall Story, G 199.

Tapling Collection, G 28.

Tasmania, N 222, 258.

Tasmanian Platypus Type, P 141.

Telegraph, Army, Stamps, Ashantee, G 201.

Telegraph Stamps, G 27.

Those Terrible Tongas, G 285.

Threatened Commemoration Flood, E 3.

Timor, N 190.

Tolima, N 78, 137.

Tobago, N 308,

Tonga, N 73, 110, 164, 222, 278.

Tongan Stamps, P 193.

Tongas. Those Terrible.

Trade, Stamp, Menacing the, E 205.

Training future Collectors, E 35.

Transvaal, N 18, 48, 79, 110, 137, 164, 223,

306, 329.
Transvaal Postal Deliveries, G 334.
Transvaal. Recent Issues, C 173.
Transvaal, Surcharges, More, G 57.
Transvaal variety, A very interesting, G 144.
Transvaals, Mr. Jeppe on, P 166.
Transvaals, Stray Notes on, A 128.
Trial, curious, in Paris, G 27.
Triangle varieties. U.S., P 52, 228, 258.
Trifet, F., on Old Times, P 195.
Trifet, Mr., and the S.S.S.S., G 198.
Trinidad, N 253.

Trinidads, obsolete, destroyed, G 334.
Turkey, P 259.
Tuscany, 60 crazie, F 286.

Uganda Protectorate, N 279.
Unfashionable, Be, G 144.
United States, N 137, 223, 254.
Unpaid Letter Stamps, Belgian, P 19.
Unpaid Letter Stamps of France, P 113.
Unwise collecting, G 200.

INDEX.

Vll

Up-to-Date Album, (Senf's), R 220.

Uruguay, N 48, 223.

Uruguay Official Decree, P 85.

U.S. and Philatelists, P 53.

U.S. Boy's Paper, G 284.

U.S. Bureau and its Stamps, P 193.

U.S. Bureau, minor varieties, P 283.

U.S. Bureau Perforation, P 258.

U.S. Capped, 2c, 1890, P 52.

U.S. Commemorative Stamp, G 87.

U.S. Counterfeit, F 55.

U.S. Craze, G 56.

U.S. Current 2c. Varieties, P 228.

U.S. Departmental, Aggregate Printings, P 113.

U.S. Department Stamps, G 87 ; P 117.

U S., 1873-1882, Differences, Pill.

U.S. Envelopes, G 335.

U.S., Grill all over, P 196.

U.S., Issue of 1893, P 84.

U.S., more Cornering in, E 3.

U.S , Official Notices, A 73.

U.S., on ribbed paper, P 19

U.S., Outer line, P 195.

U.S.. paper of current issue. P 228.

U.S. Periodicals, How obtained, P 54.

U.S. Plate number Catalogue, E 220.

U S. Plate number Collecting, G 20, 88.

U.S. Plates, P 20, 228, 258, 260.

U.S. Post Offices, G 285.

U.S. Reprints and Reissues, A 215.

U.S. Stamps demonitiscd, P 257.

U.S. Stamps (designs), G 86.

U.S. Stamps, doctoring. F 203.

U.S. Stamps, 1870, 1885, paper of, P 83,

U S. 30c. 1872, Secret Mark, P 80, 114.

U.S. Triangle varieties, P 52, 228, 258.

U.S., Watermarks, P 24, 52.

Value and Rarity, E 290.

Value, something of, A 318,

Varieties, Abnormal, of Great Britain, A. 5.

Varieties, Chilian, P 53.

Varieties, Minor, E 266.

Varieties of gum, P 140.

Varieties, U.S., Triangle, P 52.

Variety, Transvaal, A very interesting, G 144.

Vaud, 5c, P 281.

Venezuela, N 49.

Very Interesting Transvaal Variety, G 144.

Victoria, N. 49.

Victoria, Official Stamp, Dealers in, P 330.

Victoria, The Prints of, G 286.

Victorians, Change in, P 82.

Virgin Islands, N 190.

Waiting till the sack was full, G 144.
Wanted, another General Philatelic Exhibition,

E 93.
Washington, Stamps in, P 308.
Watermarks, U.S , P 24.
Western Australia, N 49, 190, 223 ; A 320.
Western Australia, First Issues, A 96, 124, 180.
Western Australian Provisionals P 23.
What shall we collect, P 50.
What shall we condemn. E 122.

Yet another Buchanan, G 230.

Young Collector, E 200.

Young Collector, Journal for the, G 230.

49, 110, 137, 164, 223, 254,

Zanzibar, N 18,
279 ; P 332.
Zanzibar and British East Africa. A 153
Zululand, F 55 ; N 110.

Vol. 18.— No. 1. JANUARY, 1896,

The

Philatelic

Record

and Stamp News.

EDITED BY

Edward J. Nankivell.

Contents :

PAGE

i. EDITORIAL NOTES i

2. ABNORMAL VARIETIES of GREAT BRITAIN.— By Hastings

E. Wright 5

3. PHILATELY A NATIONAL PASTIME. — By Edward J.

Nankivell 9

4. RECENT QUEENSLAND ISSUES.— By J. E. Newell Bull... ii

5. DEATH OF LORD KINGSTON 13

6. NEW ISSUES (Illustrated) 17

7. PHILATELY IN THE MAGS 19

8. FORGERIES AND REPRINTS 25

9. PHILATELIC GOSSIP 26

10. CORRESPONDENCE 29

11. SOCIETIES IN SESSION 30

12. AUCTION SALES 31

13. NOTICES 32

London :

Buhl & Co. Limited,

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C.

SIXPENCE.

Feary Subscription 3?., post free to any part of the world.

AD VERTISEMENTS.

January, 1896,

The
New Enlarged Edition of —

Excellent Arrangement & Binding.
Unrivalled Cheapness.

3 SErcsriF's m

ostage ^tm$ %lhnm

IS JUST READY.

Ko.
201
202
203,
204.
205
206,

207,

IMPERIAL 4to EDITION.

(Printed only en right-hand side of each leaf.)

oth, half-bound, 1 vol 012 0

0 15 0

0 18 0

1 0 0
1 15 0

— Cloth, half-bound, 1 vol.

— Cloth, half-bound, printed on strong paper...

—Cloth, half-bound, 2 vols

— Strongly bound in cloth, 2 vols

, — Cloth, gilt edges, clasp, &c.

— Edition fob. Amateurs. Printed on strong
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2 vols.

— Edition db Luxe in three volumes ; same
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3 0 0

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215.
214
212

MEDIUM 4to EDITION.

(Printed on both sides of each leaf.)

-Cloth, half-bound 0 5

■—Binding, half-cloth 0 6

— Superior binding in cloth 0 7

rpHIS NEW ALBUM
contains all Stamps,
Envelopes & "Wrappers,
issued up to date.

All Post Cards have
been excluded at the
request of a great
number of ENGLISH
COLLECTORS.

®<&S&OOGO*>&*>S>$>&&&*>

REMARKABLE NOVELTY!

VICTORIA EDITION OF SCHAUBEK'S ALBUM.

(Eegistered.)

These Collection-Books are not second to any of the more expensive works, in

respect of PERFECTION and LUCIDITY, and may be regarded as

The Ideal Album for Average and for Moderate Collectors.

Excellent inside and outside get-up. Completely revised text.
Protected in all Countries in conformity with the Laws.

TO BE OBTAINED AT PRICES RANGING BETWEEN 3d. & 3s.

Detailed Prospectus and Specimen Sheets of all Albums on application

to the Publisher,

G. F. LUCKE,

POSTAGE STAMP ALBUM MANUFACTURER,

LEIPZIG, GERMANY.

January, 1896.

AD VERTISEMENTS.

Messes. BUHL & CO., Limited,

"Will hold the Second of their Periodical

SALES BY AXJOTIOM

RARE POSTAGE STAMPS,

At Anderton's Hotel, Fleet Street, London, E.G.,

On FEBRUARY the 3rd, 4th5 and 5th, 1896,

At 6 p,m. prompt.

Collectors and others wishing to
include Lots in these Sales should
send them to the Auctioneers as
early as possible. — Terms on

application.

LIBERAL CASH ADVANCES MADE

Fending Realization, if desired.

The THIRD SALE will take place on

February 20th and 21st,

Particulars of which will be duly
announced.

PERIODICAL MONTHLY SALES

Will be held throughout the Season.

BUHL & CO., Limited, wish

particularly to mention that

all Stamps in their Auctions

are sold absolutely

WITHOUT RESERVE.

BUHL & CO., Limited,

PHILATELIC EXPERTS, DEALERS, AUCTIONEERS, AND PUBLISHERS,

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, E.G.

Telegraphic Address : Philately," London.]

[ESTABLISHED U80

WE HAVE JUST PURCHASED

A Magnificent Collection

— OF —

British Colonial Rarities

The property of a well-known London Collector, which J? Gfl fill
will price out to about ------ AUvUUi

Nearly every UNUSED copy is in MINT state, and where USED
in perfect condition.

A Detailed Catalogue of this Collection is in preparation, and
will be ready early in February. It will be sent post free on
application*

The Collection will be ready for Sale on MONDAY, the 10th
FEBRUARY, and no Stamps tvill be sold to anyone before that
date. It tvill comprise nearly all British Colonies with the exception
of Australia.

HARRY HILCKES & CO., Limited,

64, CHEAPSIDE, LONDON, E.C.

iv ADVERTISEMENTS. January, ij

PERIODICAL SALES BY AUCTION

Rare Postage Stamps

HELD BY

Messrs, VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER,

(WHO ORIGINATED THEM IN THIS COUNTRY,)

AT THE

St. Martin's Town Hall, Charing Cross, E.O.

Dates of Sale (1896):

February 11th, 12th, 25th, and 26th. March 11th, 12th, 24th and 25th. April 14th, 15th,

29th and 30th. May 7th, 21st, and 22nd.

February 1 1th and 12th. — A fine private collection, including British Guiana, 1853, lc. and
4c. ; British Honduras. 50c. on Is., small surcharge; Barbadoes, Id. on balf 5s. fine; Canada 6d.
green; Newfoundland, 4d. carmine; Nova Scotia, Is. violet; Antigua, Is. (2); Dominica, Is.
(4) ; Montserrat, 4d. blue C.A. (2) ; St. Christopher, 6d. olive-brown (2) ; St. Lucia, Is. black
and orange, Is. red-brown, unused (2) ; St. Vincent, compound perf., Is. slate-grey, unused, 4d.
yellow (2) ; and provisionals complete ; Tobago, 6d. ochre ; Virgin Isles, complete, including
perf. 15s. Od. rose, unused, and many used ; Gibraltar, complete, used and unused ; Cyprus,
complete; Great Britain, nearly complete, including V.R. 10d., wink, four flowers, used, and 9d.
with hair lines ; Ceylon 8d. and 9d. imperf. ; Nevis, a fine lot ; Luebeck the error used, rouletted
French on entires ; Fiji, Times Express set ; Victoria, 5s. blue on yellow : Canada Gd. green, lOd.
blue, and 6 purple-black perforated; all unused, and in mint state. Madrid lc, on entire ; Cape
woodblocks; unused Wurtemburgs ; Western Australia 1st issue 2d., 6d., and Is., rouletted and
unused ; a very fine lot of United States ; Victoria, 2d. (fine background), and 2s. green rouletted ;
Naples, ^ tornese blue cross, unused, and 50 grani. Oldenburg, nearly complete ; Nova Scotia
Is. and halves of the Is. Newfoundland; Bolivia 1st issue, 50c. blue and 500c. black (2 varities) ;
a grand lot of Id., 2d., and 3d. Sydney Views, including pairs and strips, all plated, also a number
of 8d. Laureateds ; South Australia, a fine lot, including 9d., with back impression, rare perfs.,

February 25th and 26th.— A fine general selection of rare British, Foreign, and Colonial
Postage Stamps, including Ceylon, wmk, star, perforated 8d, mustard and 8d, brown ; Canada, 6d.
green and lOd, blue, unused, in mint state ; Great Britain, LB,, Official £1 green, a fine pair ;
Jamaica, splits on pieces of original ; Turks Islands, provisional ^d. on 4d., used ; a fine lot of 1st
issue Tolimas ; France, 15c, eiror in a pair with 10c, unused ; Buenos Ayres, 4 pesos red ; a rare
lot of Nevis and other "West Indies; Sydney Views, Cape woodblocks, early Mauritius, fine
German States, and other Europeans ; also a grand selection of Collections.

Owing to the large number of applications that the Auctioneers receive from America and the
Continent for their Catalogues, these are issued, when practicable, at least one month before the date
of Sale. In order to facilitate this arrangement, owners intending to include Stamps should forward
them at the earliest possible moment. The greatest care is requisite in the preparation of these
Catalogues, so that a correct and comprehensive description of the Stamps msy be given.

VALUATIONS MADE IF REQUIRED.

CA TALOGUES of all Sales, and Terms, can be had on application to

Messrs. VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER,

(Philatelic Department,)

35, OLD JEWRY, LONDON, E.G.

Telegraphic Address :'< VEN TOM," LONDON. Telephone Number, 15,076. ESTABLISHED 1761.

January, 1896. ADVERTISEMENTS.

Messrs. PUTTICK & SIMPSON,

Uilentrg, Jitte %x\1 mia fljiiaMii guixnottcm,

47, LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.,

MAKE THE SALE OF

Rare Postage Stamps

A SPECIALITY.

THEIR NEXT SALE WILL TAKE PLACE

On Monday and Tuesday, the i7th and 18th February.

The above Sale will be followed by Sales on the 24th February; 2nd, 3rd, 16th, 17th,

30th, and 31st March; 20th and 21st April; 4th, 5th, 28th, and 29th May;

and 12th and 13th dune.

Property for inclusion in their March and following Sales should be forwarded at once, as the Catalogues
are Published One Month in advance in order that they may circulate in America.

LIBERAL ADVANCES MADE PENDING REALIZATION, IF REQUIRED.

For Terms and Foll Particulars Address :

Messrs. PUTTICK & SIMPSON, 47, Leicester Sg,, London.

[ESTABLISHED 1794.]

THE MONTHLY PACKET 0E NEW ISSUES.

No. 1. — Price One Shilling (postage extra).
THE JANUARY PACKET

Contains Four Varieties, all unused, viz. :— Queensland Provisionals, £d, with burele, ^d. with
"secret" watermark, gd, on thick ("beer duty") paper, and Mauritius 3c. violet, new type.

THE MONTHLY PACKET OF NEW ISSUES.

Ho. 2. — Price One Shilling (postage extra),
THE JANUARY PACKET

Contains Transvaal |d., new type (with pole) ; Belgium, unpaid, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, and 1 franc;
Victorio " Postage Due," £d., red and green ; Samoa, l^d. on 2d. and 3d. on 2d. : and British South

Africa, new type. (This Packet does not contain any stamps included in the No, 1 packet).

These packets are on sale from January 25th to February 24th (unless the supply is previously

exhausted), and are supplied only to Subscribers to the "Philatelic Record and Stamp News."

Similar packets will be on sale every month, and may be subscribed for in advance for the year

(January to December inclusive), at the following rates : —

No. 1 packet (sent by book post with the paper), 12/6, post-free.

No. 2 packet (by letter post), Inlaid 61/- ; Abroad 62/6, post-free.

The Subscription to the Paper (3/- per annum) is extra.

BUHL & CO., LIMITED,

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, E. C.

AD VERTISEMENTS.

January, 1826.

MONTHLY JOURNAL

FOR

SPECIALISTS IN ENGLISH STAMPS.

No. 1, Nov., 1895. No. 2, Dec, 1895.
No. 3, Jan., 1896.

NOW READY.
Subscription 4\- per Annum.

PUBLISHED BY

H. I/ESTRANGE EWEN,
Swanage, Dorset.

A NEW CATALOGUE
OF ENGLISH STAMPS.

4th Edition (Aug., 1895);
108 Pages, - - 160 Illustrations,

Thick Blue Paper Cover, 1/6, post-free.
Edition de Luxe, Cloth Cover, 5/-, post-free.

CONTAINING

Priced Catalogue of all English Stamps (Postage
and Telegraph ;

Complete List of British Postmarks ;

Priced Catalogue of English Stamps with Foreign
Postmarks.

rriJLISHED BY

H. I/ESTRANGE EWEN,
Swanage, Dorset.

APPROVAL BOOKS
OF ENGLISH STAMPS.

USED, UNUSED, k WITH FOREIGN POSTMARKS,

This Series of Approval Books of English

Stamps, each Stamp priced separately, is

the Finest in the World, and valued at

£4000.

LISTS OF WANTS PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO.

H. L'ESTRANGE EWEN,

specialist, anlr Bcaler tr

Stamps,

Swanage, Dorset.

"Expert, Specialist, anlr Scaler tn lEnglisf)
Stamps,

'The Philatelic World

A MONTHLY JOURNAL FOR STAMP COLLECTORS.

THE REPRESENTATIVE PAPER OF INDIA.

Official Organ of the Philatelic Society of Bengal.

Specimen Copies 4d„ or 8 cents each, post-free.

Yearly Subscription, 3/6, or 85 cents,

16 PAGES, WITH COVER, ROYAL OCTAVO.

A splendid medium for advertisers and collectors desiring
to do business with India. Edited a. id published by

B. GORDON JONES & CO.,

Philatelic JBralerB, Uticiionms. 8.- )Buiilisl)cta,

6, Mission Row, Calcutta.

SOUTH AFRICAN

STAMPS.

The undersigned is prepared to send

Sheets of South African Stamps,

SHEETS MADE TO ORDER,
TO ANY COLLECTORS, ON" GOOD REFERENCES.

H. J. STUART,

BOX 11, Pietermaritzburg, NATAL.
"Time is Money! " Save both, by using-

JONES'S

WATCHES OF PRECISION.

LEV22R, £1:5:0.

For Exact Timekeeping no "Watch equals the Lever)
provided it is properly constructed and finished. More
than satisfaction is guaranteed for any of the Watches
selected for mention as annexed, or in T. A. Jones's
Catalogue, which will be sent post-free on application.

&ENTLEMEN*S KEYLESS LEVERS. — Remarkable
Accuracy, Incomparable Value.
Fine Silver, Crystal Glass, £1 5s. ; Superior, £2 2s. ;
Besi, £3 3s. 18 Carat Gold (Handsome Watch),
£5 5s ; Best, £7 10s ; Lever Chronometer, £10 10s.
T. A. Jones's Specially Fine Lever Chronometer,
18-ct. Gold Hunter, Half Hunter, or Crystal Glass,
£12 12s., £15 15s.. £21, and .£25.

LADIES' LITTLE GEM WATCHES. — Keyless Half
Hunter or Crystal Glass, Richly Engraved or
Polished Cases.

Fine Silvjer, Lever, £2 10s. ; Best, £3 10s. 18 Carat
Gold (Handsome Watch), £5 5s.; Superior, £6 6s.;
Best, £7 7s.
Safe by post, with Warranty for Three Years, and hints
on management, on receipt of remittance

LADIES' GOLD ENGAGEMENT, WEDDING, KEEPER
AND DRESS RINGS, 10s. 6d., !5s 6d., 21s., 25s.,
30s., 2s., and 50s. ; Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise,
and Fine Pearl Rings, newest designs. 21s , 25s., 30s , 42s.,
50s., 63s., 70s., 105s., and upwards. Special value. Illus-
trations and set ot Ring Sizes, post-free. Clocks, Jewellery,
and Plate of every kind.

Any of the above articles sent safe to any postal address
in the world, on receipt of Cash, P.O.O., or Bank Draft,
direct to—

T. A. JONES,

WATCH MANUFACTURER AND JEWELLER,
352, Essex Road, Islington, London,

Or in return for Foreign Stamps of Messrs. Buhl & Co.
Limited, at the Office of this paper, 11, Queen Victoria
Street, London.

January, 1896.

AD VERTISEMENTS.

Vll

The Stamp News Annual

^OIR, 1896.

(Sixth Year of Publication.)

100 Pages, Large 4to. Full of Original

Articles, specially written for its pages

by leading Philatelic Writers, and

other matter on Philatelic

subjects.

CONTENTS.

1825 : A Retrospect.

1896: A Forecast.

Some Notes on the Stamps of Barbados.

By Gilbert Lockyer.

Philatelic Jottings. By Dr. Viner.

On Hinging Stamps. By Edward J. Nankivett.

Philatelic Types. By A Psychological Student,

Virgin Islands. By 0. Firth.

The Cheapest Stamps to Buy at Auctions.

By M. Z. Kuttner.

A Brief Description of St. Vincent. .

By Rev. Allan S. Hawkesworth,

The Varieties cf the So-called Barrios Stamps of
Guatemala, with Printed Surcharge.

By /. B.. Afiheisser.

A Philatelic Dream. By R, Meyer.

Stamp Collecting versus Gold Mining.

By JJouglas Mackenzie.

Stamps of the Ionian Islands.

By Dr. Jur. C. S. Socolis.

Used and Unused.
&c.

&c.

By H. Keanedy.
&c.

PBICE, in strong Paper Cover, 2s. 6d.,
poet free.

Elegantly bound in Cloth, Gilt Edges, &c,
4s. 6d., post free.

BUHL & Co., Limited,

11, Queen Victoria St., London, E.C.

Ig^* "We offer the following only subject to
being in stock :

BEITISH EAST AFRICA
COMPANY.

£, 1, 2, 81, 3, 4, 4J, 5, 1\, and 8 annas j
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 rupees.

The COMPLETE SET of 15, UNUSED, for 25/*
post-free.

(These Stamps are now obsolete).

BEITISH EAST AFRICA.

Provisionals, surcharged "British East Africa"
on current issue Indian Stamps.

£a, la., 2a., and 2a. 6 p. used.

THE SET OF FOUR, PRICE 25/- post-free.

These Provisionals were issued by the British
Government, who have taken over the Adminis-
tration of the Company's Territory.

BUHL & CO., Limited.

11, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.

LARGE VARIETY PACKETS

USED AND UNUSED

Foreign & Colonial Postage Stamps

WE are now enabled to offer the undermentioned
Packets which contain only Adhesjve
Postage Stamps, and no cut Envelopes, Wrappers,
or Postcards, or Fiscals, Telegraphs, Locals, or Reprints.
The Stamps are. all clean specimens, in good condition, and
the quality and price invit-e comparison with those
that are offare 1 by other firms. It is impossible to
enumerate any of the Stamps contained in th<>se Packets,
the larger ones of which contain genuine Government
Issues, catalogued as high as 2s. each.

No. B 1 .—Contains Fifteen Hundred

different Used and Unused Postage
Stamps. Price £3:3:0.

No. B 2.— Contains One Thousand

different Used and Unused Postage
Stamps. Price 27s.

No. B 3.— Contains Five Hundred

different Used and Unused Postage
Stamps. Price 7s. 6d.

BUHL & CO., Limited,

11, Qtjeen Victoria Street, London, E.C.

VI 11

AD VER TISEMENTt

January, 1896.

l!°DE?flf*niftI/ ft A B IE II PHILATELIC EXPERT, DEALER, & VALUER,

rKtUtnlbK K. LINN, 143, strand, London,

Buys for Immediate Cash Collections of any size, Parcels of Stamps, or Single Rarities.
SPECIALLY WANTED.-Collections for £500 to £3000, Cash down.

A choice stock of rare and desirab'e Stamps at moderate
rates always on view.

All visitors to London, whether Dealers or Collectors, are
invited to call.

SPECIAL OFFERS-THI3 MONTH ONLY,

ORDER EARLY.— VERY LIMITED NUMBER.

TERMS — Cash with Order. Money gladly returned in full If not according to description.
All stamps guaranteed in every respect.

DOMINICA, 1882, Provisionals. Complete sheet of 10 varities of the $d. surcharged in red on half the One r>ennp
lilac, in mint condition as issued} showing all differences in surcharge, &c. Scarce and interesting. Sure to increase
in vulue, 32/6 per sheet.

GRENADA, 1832, Obsolete. Very few issued; 8d brown, 7/6 each} 1/- lilac 40/- each) unused, in mint state-
Rising in value rapidly, and will eventually become rare.

CEYLON, Zmperf. A series of 6 superb 2/- blue, in the finest thades and colours. Prices £4, £5 10s., £6 10s.) £6 10a.,
£7 iOs., £8 10s., (finest copy and colour seen), or the lot, making a grand set, for £37.

British Guiana, 1882 Provisionals.— Important Purchase and Discovery.

Complete Sheets of types, USED, including the scarcest plates of the 2 cents, in beautiful condition.

1 cent, rose, vertical, sheet cf 12 types with margins, &c, £2 10/-.

2 cents yellow, Baron de Reuterskiold's new setting (vertical), extremely rare, sheet of 12 types, £5.
2 cents yellow, the scarce square setting, sheet of 12 types, £5.

Judging by their rarity^ the above two slieets are worth £10 each.
1 cent rose, sheet of 12 types, vertical, one of which, No. 10, on plate, contains the scarce error, 81 instead of 8, £3 10/-.
BRITISH GUIANA.— 1890 PROVISIONAL. 1 ct. on one dollar, complete sheet of 50, showing varities of type and

setting, 12/6.
„ „ 1 ct. on two dollars, 12/6.

Barbadoes, Imperf., 6d. red, 8/6 ; 1/- black, 4/6. Perf. 3d.
claret, 10/6 ; 5/- rose, 40/- ; wmk. C.A., 5/- ; ochre, 10/-.

Belgium, 1865, 1 fr. lilac, 2/ .

British Columbia, 1861, 2£d. pink, 15/- ; perf. 12£, 10 c.
rose-pink, 70/- ; 1 dollar green, 60/- ; 25 c. orange, 30/- ;
50 c. violet, 45/- ; perf. 14, 5 c. red, 10/6 ; 35 c orange,
8/6 : 50 c. violet, 20/-.

Canada, £d. pink, 12/6; 7£d. green, 8S/- superb; 10 c.
blue, 35/- fine, 45/- superb. 1860-4 set of 6 used and
picked copies, 8/6 ; unused, superb with gum , 2 c. pink,
8/6 ; 10 c. violet, 8/- ; I2£ c. green, 7/6 ; registration 8 c.
blue, 9/6.

Cape of Good Hope, set of four triangular, very fine, 17/-.
Gibraltar, 1st issue, 6<1. violet, 18/6, 1/- brown, 50/-
unnsed. *',o/- used ; 2nd issue, 1/- bistre, 30/-.

Great Britain, 2/- brown, £3; £5 orange, £3; 2/6, 5/-,
10/-, the set of 3, 2/-.

Ionian, set of three fine copies, 7/-.

Mauritius, 1859, 6d. blue and I/- vermilion, 10/- the pair.

Modena, 1854, set of five, used, 6/6.

Naples, 1858, 20 gr. lake, 8/- ; 50 gr. laKe, 60/-.

Nevis, on greyish paper, perf. 13, Id. rose, 10/6 ; 6d. grey,
30/-; Is. green, 35/-.

New Brunswiek, 3d. red, 15/-; 6d. yellow, 85/-. 1860-3,
full set of 6, used, 10/6.

Newfoundland, carmine-vermilion 8d., used 35/-, unused
20/- ; bd., a magnificent specimen, with larce margins
and superb colour, £12; orange-vermilion 2d., used, 35/-,
unused 30/-; 6d., used, 45/-, extra fine with large
margins and deep colour, 90/- ; lake issue 6d., used, 10/- ;
1/-, used, 40/-; complete sheet of 6d. in superb con-

dition, with gum as issued, on thin paper, very scarce,
£2 (20 in sheet) ; ditto, sheet of 1/- in exactly same
condition, £5 ; 5 c. brown (seal), 35/- ; 5 c. black, ditto,
12/6.

Nova Scotia, Id. red-brown, 30/-; 6d. green, very fine,
35/- , 1860-4, full set of six, used, 50/- ; 8$ c. green, 30/-
unnsed, 35/- used.

Portugal, 18G7, 120 reis bluej 1/- each, 11/- per dozen.
very cheap; 240 reis violet, 7/- each ; 1871-5, 240 reis
violet, 16/- each.

St. Vincent, no wmk., 4d. blue, 20/- unused, 15/- used ; 4d.
yellow, 50/- used; 1/- slate, 18/-; 1/- brown, 26/6; 1/-
blue, 30/- ; wmk. star, 4d. ultramarine, 10/- ; 6d. yellOw-
green, 107- ; 1/- rose, 12/6 ; 1/- claret, 12/6 ; 1/- vermilion,

. 8/6 ; wmk. C.A., perf. 12 ; 1/- vermilion, 26/- unused,
30/- used ; Provisional 2£d. on 4d. brown, 14/-.

Tuscany, en blue, 1/- vellow, 30/-, very fine.

United States, New York 5 c. black, 28/-. 1847, 5 c.
brown, 3/6; 10 c. black, 11/6; imperf. 5 c. brown, 45/-;
12 c. black, 4/6. 1855-60, set of 8 (including 90 c ),
£8 10/- ; 24 c. lilac, 16/- ; 30 c. orange, 24/-; 90 c. blue,
£6 unused, £8 used. 1861-6, set of 10, 20/- ; 1868, with
grid, 90 c. blue, 35/- ; extra fine, £2 5s. 1869, set of 10,
£6 ; 24 c, 22/6 J 30 c, 12/- ; 90 c. , 65/-. 1872, 7 c. red,
2/6 ; 24 c. violet, 5/-. 1890, 90 c. orange, 2/- each, 21/-
per dozen. Columbian issue, set complete, unused,
£5 10s, ; 1 dollar, 26/6 uuused, 17/6 used.

Virgin Isles, 1st issue, 4d. brown on buff, 12/6 ; 6d. rose,
30/- ; wmk. C.A , 1/- black-brown, the scarce colour, 17/6.

Zululand, set of 11 unused, with original gum (obsolete,
will become very scarce), 32/6 per set.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT !

JUST PURCHASED

A Magnificent Collection, 20,000 to 25,000 Varieties.

A unique opportunity for ADVANCED AND MEDIUM COLLECTOES to complete sets of any issue or country

at cheap rates.

SCIENTIFICALLY-ARRA2JGED BOOKS OP SEPARATE COUNTRIES

Submitted in order of application.

THE SPECIMENS .A-ILTE- ZR^lSrO-ES OF SHADES ARE STJI^EK-B,

igg" First-class References or Cash Deposit required.

A Loi»«-felt Want Supplied.— THE PHILATELIC COLLECTING BOOK. Price 2/6 each ; post-
free, 2/10£. No more expensive Albums required. Useful to both Dealers and Collectors. Write for full particulars.
A good discount allowed on quantities of not less than half a dozen.

Vol. 18.— No. 2. February, 1896.

I i-i c

Philatelic

Record

and Stamp News.

EDITED BY

Edward J. Nankivell,

10.

(STontente :

EDITORIAL NOTES :— Our Sorrowing Friends.— The Booming o
Issues.— The Making of Catalogues. — Training New Collectors

ALSACE AND LORRAINE. By G. B. Duerst

THE STAMPS OF REUNION. By William Herrick .

REVIEAVS :— Scott's Catalogue.— The A. B.C. Catalogue

NOVELTIES AND DISCOVERIES

PHILATELV IN THE MAGS. .—What shall we collect ?— Belgium
Issues of 1865. — The U.S. Watermark. — U.S. Triangle Varieties. — The
Capped 2 cent of U.S. 1890. — Impending Changes in South Africans.—
Chilian Varieties. — Indian Native State Issues. — The U.S. and Philatelists
— Causes of Speculation. — Indian Postal Inquisition. — How U.S. Periodical
Stamps are obtained. — U.S. Issue of 1873. — St. Helena Postal Speculation

FORGERIES AND REPRINTS :— Counterfeit U.S. 2 Cents.— Cape of
Good Hope Error. — Zululand. — Stellaland. — British Bechuanaland. — Finland
— Swazieland Reprints ........

PHILATELIC GOSSIP:— A Good Story.— The New French Stamp.-
Percy Cassandra Bishop. — Measurement of Perforations. — The U.S. Craze
— Chilians, Used and Unused. — More Transvaal Surcharges. — Seebecks
dying out ...........

CORRESPONDENCE :— Booming New Issues.— How to deal with See

becks.— Natal 3d. Blue, Watermark Star

AUCTION SALES :— B~uTil & Co.— Cheveley & Co.— Hadlow.— Puttick &
Simpson. — Ventom, Bull & Cooper ......

TO CORRESPONDENTS :— Editorial Communications, &c. .

LONDON:

BUHL & CO. LiniTED,

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C.

SIXPENCE.

Yearly Subscription 3^., post free to any part of the World.

PAGE.

33>
36
41
46

59
60

ADVERTISEMENTS. February, 1896.

PERIODICAL SALES by AUCTION

IRare postage Stamps

HELD BY

MESSRS. VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER

( Who originated them in this Country),

At the St. Martin's Town Hall, Charing Cross, S.W.

DATES OF SALES.— 1896: MARCH 11th & 12th, 24th & 25th; APRIL
14th & 15th, 28th & 29th ; MAY 21st & 22nd.

Messrs. VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER in announcing the dates for this
year, beg to draw attention to the following IMPORTANT SALES:

March Ilth & I2th. — A fine private collection, including France, I franc, orange • Modena, the large
B.G. ; Monaco, 5 francs, unused ; Naples, Cross, Oldenburg, nearly complete; Spain, 1850, I2cts. and iorls.,
unused; Ceylon, is. 9^., green, unused; Hong Kong, 96c, yellow, brown, unused, with gum ; Cape (wood
blocks), early Mauritius, United States, a very fine lot, many unused ; Brazil, slanting figures 180, 300 and
600 reis; Buenos Ayres, 1, 2, 3, and 4 pesos ; Mexico, 3c, brown (Eagle), very fine ; New Brunswick, is.
violet, very fine; Nova Scotia, is. violet, fine ; Newfoundland, 2d., 4d., 6d., and 8d., vermilion ; Nevis, 1st
issue, 4d., 6d., and is., unused, with gum ; St. Vincent, a fine lot, including 4d. yellow, unused ; Virgin
Islands, is , single lined border ; Sydney Views ; Victoria, 5s., blue on yellow ; Western Australia, 1st issue,
2d. and 6d. ; and a very fine collection of Tasmania fin lots).

March 24th & 25th. — A private collection, including Saxony, 3 pfg. ; Oldenburg, complete ; Bremen,
complete; Tuscany, 2 soldi ; Gibraltar, complete; Roumania. 50 bani, with beard ; .Azores and Madeira, com-
plete; United States, including i860 (90c, unused), 1869 issue, and Columbus set (used); Brazil, slanting
figures 180, 300, and 600 reis ; Sydney Views, Switzerland (Winterthur, Neufchatel, and Vaud), a very fine lot
of West Indies, and many others.

Messrs. VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER have received instructions to sell in May a
very fine private collection comprising- a large number of rarities of nearly every country,
mostly unused. Detailed Advertisement will shortly appear.

Owing to the large number of applications that the Auctioneers receive from America and the Continent for
their Catalogues, these are issued, when practicable, one month before the date of Sale. In order to facilitate
this arrangement, owners intending to include Stamps should forward them at the earliest possible moment.

The greatest care is requisite in the preparation of these Catalogues, so that a correct and comprehensive
description of the Stamps may be given.

VALUATIONS MADE IF REQUIRED.

Catalogues of all Sales and Terms can be had on application to

Messrs. VENTOM, BULL, k COOPER, 35, Old Jewry, London, E.C.

(PHILATELIC DEPARTMENT).
Telegraphic Address : " YENTOM, LONDON." Telephone Number, 15,076.

ESTABLISHED 1761.

February, 1896.

AD VERTISEMENTS.

111

J. W. SCOTT'S

Catalogue of % postage Stamp of f|e SBforfo.

This catalogue is arranged on the old and approved plan of cataloguing every
postage stamp, without regard to minute varieties for which no accurate price can be
affixed.

It prices every stamp and its publisher will sell at the prices marked.

It pictures, on a reduced scale, every foreign stamp so that they can be easily recog-
nized, but not in the dangerous/^ simile manner which comes so near to counterfeiting.

It is printed in handy pocket size so that it can be carried in the pocket without
bending.

It is these valuable features which have made the Catalogues of this house so
popular. We are, of course, aware that most of the improvements originating with Mr. J.
W. Scott have been copied by stamp dealers throughout the world, but copies are
not originals.

PRICE ONE SHILLING.

Post Free to any Part of the World.

METROPOLITAN

PHILATELIST.

The Great Exponent of the Science of Philately
and the Mirror of the Philatelic Societies.

VOL. VII.

Commences with the April Number.

Subscription Is. per Annum.

Post Free to any Address in the World.
OUR AIMS—

To keep the Student abreast of the latest Thought
and Discoveries.

To keep the Speculator au courant of Latest
Prices and Stocks on Hand.

The Cost is Nominal

...... The Value is Incalculable.

THE

J. W.SCOTT STAMP Co.

Pay the very Highest Prices for

RARE STAMPS,

And are also open to purchase Common

Foreign Stamps in unmixed lots of not less

than One Thousand at fair market rates.

We are now in want of over One

Hundred Varieties, One Million of

each.

THE J. W. SCOTT Co. Ltd.,

inc u. vv . ouua i Ksv. t-

409 JOHN STREET, TVE^W YORK,

U.S. A..

AD VERTISEMENTS.

February ', 1896.

OUR MONTHLY LIST OF BARGAINS & NOVELTIES.

* Used. t Unused.
IN ORDERING ONLY THE NUMBER NEED BE QUOTED.

It
2t
3t

5*
6*

7t
8%

9*
10*
11*
12*
13t
14t
15t
16t
I7t
18t
19t

20f
21t

22f
23f
24f
25t
26t
27*

British East Africa Co., 8 as. and 1 Kupee, grey . . pair

„ „ „ provisional, 5 as. on 8 as., and 7| as. on 1 Rupee pair

„ „ „ ^ as. to 1 Rupee ... set of 10

„ „ „ I as. to 5 Rupees.

„ „ „ 2, 3, 4 and 5 Rupees

British East Africa, provisionals, surcharged on

and 2 \ a.
Oil Rivers, 1892, complete set of 6

Gwalior 1895 (native surcharge), £ a.

j) 5) » 1 a-

„ „ ,, 2 as.

„ ,, „ 4 as.

Queensland 1895, £d, with burele

„ „ |d, thick paper

„ „ £d, with " secret " watermark

Mauritius, 3c. lilac
Portuguese Indies, provisional (crown type), 1£ on 5 Reis

5) 55 55

55 5) 55

set of 15, complete

Indian, \ a., 1 a., 2 a
set of 4

1£ and 4£ (double sur

charge) on 5 Reis

4£ on 5 Reis

4£ on 20 Reis

Transvaal, £d. on Is. green

„ Id. on 2^d. violet ....

„ 6d. pink fiscal, surcharged " Postzegel," in green

„ Id. Commemoration stamp

British Guiana, 1889, 2c. mauve and black

55 55 55 55 55 5)

Postage extra.

price
for 1

s. d.

20 0

4
25

30 0

9 0

15 0

2 0

0 4

0 3

price
for 12
S. d.

48 0

1 6
1 6

2 6

1 9

2 6
1 9
1 6

15 0

18 0
3 6

35 0

The following are a few Rarities we have at present in stock :-

St. Lucia Is. orange, used, fine
Tobago, 6d. ochre, C. A. used, fine
Ceylon 8d., no watermark, used, fine
Canada lOd. blue, unused, large margins
Moscow, envelope, small size, used, fine
Afghanistan ^ Rupee, purple, 1289

1) *■ 5) 5) 55

Natal 1st issue, 9d. blue, large margins
Queensland Id. red, a strip of 3 with the error QOEENSLAND in centre, unused
St. Christopher Is. lilac, unused, fine ..... each

Nevis 4d. orange, perf. 15, unused, no gum, but fine

„ Is. green, „ 15, used
New South Wales, Registered, perforated, re-constructed plate of 50 types, very fine

Many other Rarities in stock, and Selections sent on approval to Responsible Collectors.

References rec,

Each.

S 6 10

15 0

7 10

5 0

50 0

7 10

16 0

6 0

1 7

3 0

30 0

First-class

BUHL & CO. Limited,

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, E.O,

February, 1896.

AD VERTISEMENTS.

A MONTHLY JOURNAL

FOR

SPECIALISTS IN ENGLISH STAMPS.

No. 1, Nov., 1895. No. 2, Dec, 1895,

No. 3, Jan., 1896.

NOW READY.

Subscription 4/- per Annum.

PUBLISHED BY

H. L'ESTRANGE EWEIST,
SWANAGE, DORSET.

A NEW CATALOGU E

ENGLISH STAMPS.

4th Edition (Aug., 1895) ;
108 Pages. - - 160 Illustrations.

Thick Blue Paper Cover, 1/6, post free.
Edition de Luxe, Cloth Covers, 5/-, post free.

CONTAINING

Priced Catalogue of all English Stamps (Postage and

Telegraph).
Complete List of British Postmarks.
Priced Catalogue of English Stamps with Foreign

Postmarks.

PUBLISHED BY

H. I/ESTRANGE EWEIST,
SWANAGE, DORSET.

APPROVAL BOOKS OF
ENGLISH STAMPS.

Used, Unused, & with Foreign Postmarks.

This Series of Approval Books of English Stamps, each

Stamp priced separately, is the finest in the world, and

valued at £4000.

Lists of Wants promptly attended to.

H. L'ESTRANGE EWEN",

(Expert ^nerinltst, & gcalin-iu (English stamps.

SWANAGE, DORSET.

TO LET

SOUTH AFRICAN
ST^MI DPS.

The undersigned is prepared to send

Sheets of South African Stamps,

SHEETS MADE UP TO OEDEK,
To any Collectors, on Good References.

H. J. STUART,
Box 11, Pietermaritzburg, NATAL.

"TIME IS MONEY!" SAVE BOTH BY USING

JONES'S

WATCHES of PRECISION

LEVER, £1 : 5 : O.

For Exact Timekeeping no Watch equals the Lever,
provided it is properly constructed and finished. More
than satisfaction is guaranteed for any of the Watches
selected for mention as annexed, or in T. A. Jones's
Catalogue, which will be sent post free on application.

GENTLEMEN'S KEYLESS LEVERS— Kemarkable
Accuracy, Incomparable Value.
Fine Silver, Crystal Glass, £1 5s.; Superior, £2 2s. j
Best, £3 3s. 18-Carat Gold (Handsome Watch),
£5 os. ; Best, £7 10s. ; Lever Chronometer, £10 10s.
T. A. Jones's Specially Fine Lever Chronometer,
18-et. Gold Hunter, Half Hunter, or Crystal Glass,
£12 12s., £15 15s., £21. and £25.

LADIES' LITTLE GEM WATCHES.-Keyless Half
Hunter, or Crystal Glass, Eichly Engraved or
Polished Cases.
Fine Silver, Lever, £2 10s. ; Best, £3 10s. 18-Carat
Gold (Handsome Watch) £5 5s.; Superior, £6 6s.;
Best, £7 7s.
Safe by post, with Warranty for Three Years, and hints
on management, on receipt of remittance.

LADIES' GOLD ENGAGEMENT, WEDDING,
KEEPER AND DRESS RINGS, 10s. 6d., 15s. 6d.,
21s., 25s., 30s., 32s., and 50s. ; Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire,
Turquoise, and fine Pearl Rings, newest designs, 21s., 25s.,
30s., 42s., 50s., 63s., 70s., Iu5s., and upwards. Special
value. Illustrations and set of Ring Sizes, post free.
Clocks, Jewellery, and Plate of every kind.

Any of the above articles sent safe to any postal address
in the world, on receipt of Cash, P.O.O., or Bank Draft,
direct to—

T. A. JON ES,
WATCH MANUFACTURER AND JEWELLER,

252, Essex Road, Islington, London,

Or in return for Foreign Stamps of Messrs. Buhl & Co*
Limited, at the Office of this paper, 11, Queen Victoria
Street, London.

WANTED.

WURTEMBUE&, 5 Marks, Used.

Will pay 6 Marks each.

S. Freudenstein, Frankfurt a/M., Germany.

AD VERTISEMENTS.

February, 1896.

TV ALTER MORLEY,

186, WEST GREEN ROAD, TOTTENHAM, LONDON, N.

Walter Morley's Catalogue of English Stamps with Supplement of revised prices to January, 1896.

Price Is. 6d.

Walter Morley's Catalogue of Colonial Eevenue Stamps. Price 2s. 6d.

Handy Pocket Albums for reconstructed sheets of English Stamps. 3d. each, 2s. 6d. dozen.

[Fourth Edition now publishing').

The plating of English Stamps has so caught on, by the issue of these little books, that there has

already been constructed more sheets of English Stamps than all the other Countries of the World.

1,000 of these Albums take 240,000 Stamps to fill them— and although this cannot seriously affect

used Id. red plate numbers, such stamps as Id. Blacks and 2d. Blues (no lines) — will some day be

as hard to complete as Sydney Views and Nevis.
Fine Selections of English and Colonial Stamps can be submitted on approval. References required.

Wat ^tamp Jtttoa Jbtmtai

FOB 189S.

(SIXTH YEAR OF PUBLICATION).

100 Pages, Large 4to. Full of Original Articles, specially written for
its pages by leading Philatelic Writers, and other matter on Philatelic

subjects.

CONTENTS.

1825 : A Retrospect

1896 : A Forecast .

Some Notes on the Stamps of Barbados .

Philatelic Jottings .

On Hinging Stamps .

Philatelic Types

Virgin Islands

The Cheapest Stamps to Buy at Auctions

A Brief Description of St. Vincent

The Varieties of the So-called Barrios Stamps of

with Printed Surcharge
A Philatelic Dream .
Stamp Collecting versus Gold Mining
Stamps of the Ionian Islands .
Used and Unused .

&c.

By Gilbert Lockyer.
By Dr. Finer.
By Echvard J. Nankivell.
By A Psychological Student.
By 0. Firth.
By M. Z. Kuttner.
By Bev. Allan S. Hawkesworth.
Guatemala,

By J. H. Anheisser.

By B. Meyer.

. By Douglas Mackenzie.

By Dr. Jur. C. S. Socolis.

By H. Keanedy.

&c.

PRICE, in strong Paper Cover, 2s. 6d., post free.
Elegantly bound in Cloth, Gilt Edges, &c, 4s. 6d., post free.

BUHL & Co., Limited,

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, E.C.

February, 1896. ADVERTISEMENTS.

Vll

Messrs PUTTICK & SlflPSON,

literary *$'mt %x\ anft § hilateltr. Ikmtxonms,
47, LEICESTER SQUARE, IMDO^W.O.

MAKE THE SALE OF

RARE POSTAGE STAMPS

A SPECIALITY.
THEIR NEXT SALE WILL TAKE PLACE

On MONDAY and TUESDAY, the 16th and 17th of MARCH,

The above Sale will be followed by Sales on the 30th and 31st March ; 20th and 21st
April ; 4th, 5th, 28th and 29th May ; and 12th and 13th June.

Property for inclusion in their April and following Sales should be forwarded at once, as the Catalogues
are Published One Month in advance in order that they may circulate in America.

LIBERAL ADVANCES MADE PENDING REALIZATION, IF REQUIRED.

For Terms and Full Particulars Address : —

Messrs. PUTT/CK & SIMPSON, 47, Leicester Square, London.

[ESTABLISHED 1794.]
Bronze Medal— Paris, 1894. Highest Award for Philatelic Journals— Paris, 1892.

THE PHILATELIC RECORD.

/'rices for the previous Volumes are as follows : —

Vol. I. (1879), beautifully bound in cloth, gilt letter- Vol. VIII. (1886), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
ing and edging, containing Photograph and Autograph graph of M. Burnett, Esq. Price 7s. 6d., post free,
of the late E. L. Pemberton. A small number of Vol. IX. (1887), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
copies still remaining. Price 20s., post free. graph of the late T. K. Tapling, Esq. M.P.. Vice-

Vol. II. (1880), bound to match Vol. I, but consider- President of the Philatelic Society of London,
ably larger, contains illustrations in the later numbers, j Price 7s. 6d., post free.

Price 15s., post free. Vol. X. (1888), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-

A7ol. III. (1881), bound to match Vols. I and II, but graph of W. E. Image, E»q. Price 7s. 6d., post free,
much larger. Profusely illustrated with coloured Vol. XI. (1889), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
plates, etc. ; also permanent Photograph of Dr. C. graph of Heir Philipp von Ferrary. Price 7s. 6d.,
W. Viner. Price 15s., post free. post free.

Vol. IV. (1882), similarly bound, profusely illustrated. Vol. XII. (1890), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
Permanent Photograph of the late Vict. G. de Ysasi. graph of Messrs. Caillebotte. Price 7s. 6d., post free.
Price 1 os. 6d., post free. Vol. XIII. (1891), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-

Vol. V. (1883), similarly bound, profusely illustrated, graph of E. D. Bacon, Esq. Price 7s. 6d., post free.

Photograph of W. A. S. Westoby, Esq. Price Vol.XIV.(i892), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-

7s. 6d., post free. graph of M. P. Castle, Esq. Price 7s. 6d., post free.

Vol. VI. (1884), similarly bound. Permanent Photo- Vol. XV. (1893). similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
graph of Major E. B. Evans, R.A. Price 7s. 6d., graph ofMons. J. B. Moens. Price 7s. 6d.. post free,
post free. Vol. XVI. (1894), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-

Vol. VII. (1885), similarly bound. Permanent Photo- graph of Mount Brown, Esq. Price 7s. 6d , post free.

graph of Dr. A. Legrand, Secretary of the French Vol. XVII. (1895). similarly bound. 7s. 6d., post free.
Philatelic Society. Price 7s. 6d., post free. ,

Specially prepared Covers for binding Volumes 1 to XVI 7, in red or blue, post free 1/6 each.

The Publishers undertake the binding of Subscribers' Copies in similar style to above, in red or blue cloth, post

free, 2/6 per volume. In roan, 5/- per volume,'post free.

BUHL & Co., Ltd., 11, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.G.

ADVERTISEMENTS. February, 1896.

PERIODICAL SALES BY AUCTION

Of Rare Postage Stamps.

Messrs BUHL & CO. Limited,

BEG TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEIR NEXT SAEE WILL BE HELD AT

ANDERTON'S HOTEL, FLEET STREET,

LONDON, E.C.

On MARCH 26th and 27th, 1896.
The Catalogue will include an exceptionally choice selection of: —

New South Wales, 1850 (View of Sydney), including 2d Plate III,
1st RETOUCH (sometimes known as plate IV), A MATCHLESS UNSEVERED
BLOCK OF SIX, BEING NOS. 10, II, 12, 22, 23 AND 24 ON PLATE, WITH LARGE
MARGINS ALL ROUND, SHEWING MARGINAL LINES, FINE COLOUR AND
LIGHTLY CANCELLED ; also a block of four of the same plate (Nos. 1, 2, 13
and 14) ; a block of three ditto ; a strip of four, on LAID paper, and several
other blocks, pairs, and single specimens ; also

PRUSSIA, envelopes 5sgi\, large size, and 7sgr., small size, both ENTIRE AND
USED ; rarities of St. Lucia, British Guiana, Mauritius, West Indies, rare

Europeans, etc. etc.

Catalogues may be had gratis of the Auctioneers as below.

PERIODICAL MONTHLY SALES

Will be held throughout the Season.

Collectors and others wishing to include Lots in these Sales should send
them to the Auctioneers as early as possible.

Terms on application.

LIBERAL CASH ADVANCES MADE

Pending Realization, if desired.

BUHL & CO., Limited, wish particularly to mention that all Stamps
in their Auctions are sold ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT RESERVE.

BUHL & CO. Limited,

flljtlatelk feperts, Dealers, JUtrtiottms an& flublisljers,

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON. E.C.

Telegraphic Address: " PHILATELY,'" London.] [established 1880.

Vol. 18.— No. 3. March, 1896.

The

Philatelic

Record

and Stamp News.

EDITED BY

Edward J. Nankivell.

><rt£fr^*

i£fonfenfs.

Page,

1. Editorial Notes :— PLiktelic Geography.— New South Wales O.S. Reprints,—

Booming New Issues.— Tbe Commemorative Stamp.— London Philatelic Society's
Increased Enhance Fee,— CUpperton Island Rubbish 61

2. Alsace-Lorraine. By G. B. Duerst G5

3. Exchange Clubs. Py II. A. Slade 09

4. The New French Stamp (Illustrated) 71

5. College Messenger Stamps 72

(5, U.S. Official Notices 73

8. Reviews 75

7. Novelties and Discoveries 76

9, Philately in the MagS :— U.S. 300. of 1872; Secret Mark.— Colonial English,

— Seychelles' Provisionals.— The late Lord Kingston —Changes in Victorians. —
Taper of U.S. Stamps, 1670-1835. — Guarantees at Auctions.— Great Pritain :
Very Minor Varieties. — Heligoland Remainders. — Compound Envelopes. — United
States Issue of 1873, — Honduras Postal Service. — Discovery of 10c. Baltimore, — •
Paraguay Stamp Sales. — Ecuador Postal Service. — Great Britain : Control Letters.
— Cuba Yj Stamps — Uruguay: Official Decree 80

10. Philatelic Gossip: — The Ecuadorian Pecksniff. — Philatelic Garbage. —

Stamping Niggers. — U.S. Stamps. — Luxemburg Stamps. — U.S. Department
Stamps, — An Advertising DoJge. — English Postage Due Stamps. — A Catalogue
for Beginners. — U.S. Commemorative Stamp. —A Puttiala Error. — U.S. Plate
Number Collecting. — The .New Cyprus. — Incorrigible Colonies 86

11. Speculative Issues :— Protest of American Stamp Collectors 89

12. Correspondence : — Booming New Issues. — 3d. Natal, perf. watermark Star. — 90

Albums ami Speculative Issues ... ...

13. Notable Stamps at Auctions 91

LONDON:

BUHL & CO., LIMITED,

ii, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E. C.

SIXPENCE.

Fearly Subscription 3$., post free to any part of the world.

AD VER TISEMENTS.

March, 1896.

6\5~T7\~*^£-*:r^^?

APPROVAL BOOKS

BRITISH COLONIAL STAMPS.

W. HA DL 0 W has Just made up a very fine series of Special
Approval Boohs of BritisX Colonial stamps for medium collectors.
All the stamps are picked copies, and the range of shades through-
out is exceptionally fine. TUiese boohs in many cases represent the
accumulations of years. — -First cime, first served. Subsequent
applications will be taken in notation.

Bahamas, Barbados, and Bermuda.

Contains a splendid assortment of shades of
the C.C. 12^ Bahamas used and unused ; thick
and thin papers of Barbados in shades, and a
fine selection r>f Btr.nudas in shades, used and
unused.

No. 4>.
British Guiana.

Starting with the 1800 iss ie this bonk
contains an unusually tine choice of varieties on
thick and thin paper, in rare shades, arranged
according to perforations.

ISTo. 5.
St. Helena.

Used and unused of all values and the rare
varieties in grand shades, including a block of
12 of the 3d peif. 12, long line and inscription ;

compound perfs., used and unu-e 1.

Cap<

Triangulars in
of C.C. and C.A.

No. 6.
of Good Hope.

pairs and blocks, fine shades
and the surcharges.

No. 25.
St. Vincent.

Good shades of the early issues, compound
perfs., &c, &c, and all the recent issues.

St. Lucia.

Starting with the C.C. 12£ and 14 there is a
fine range of shades through the provisionals
and recent issues. Now is the chance for
picking up early dies and the retouch.

Trinidad and Tobago.

A very nice lot of Trinidad, especially in
shades of the early issues ; also an unusually
fine lot of pin perfs., the accumulation of years,
no.v arranged for sale for the first time. In
Tobago there are some nice shillings, 4d. C C.
and C.C, and several of the rarities

No. 27..
Grenada and Jamaica.

In Grenada there are whole pages of sha dps
of the 1875-82 issues, and in Jamaica an
excellent pick of shades.

DISCOUNTS: 5 per cent, on purchases under £2; 10 per cent, on
purchases under £5, and 15 per cent, on purchases under £10. Special
terms on large selections.

Wfi|/ HADLOW,

Stamp Auctioneer, Dealer, anb (Expert,

1, EXETER STREET, STRAND, LONDON,

Member of the Committee of the Philatelic Protection Association and the, Loahn
Philatelic Exchange, and The <ociety for the Suppression of Speculative Stamps.

March, i!

AD VERTISEMENTS.

SOUTH AFRICAN

STAMPS.

The undersigned is prepared to send

Sheets of South African Stamps

To any Collectors, on Good References.

H. J. STUART,

Box 11, Pieterrnaritzburg-, NATAL.

"WA1STTED1

WURTEMBURG, 5 Marks, Used,

Will pay 6 Marks each.
S. Freudenstein, Frankfurt a\M.9

GERMANY.

FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.

WHITFIELD KINC&CO.'S

Special Offers

FOR THIS MONTH ONLY.

ALL AEE UNUSED.

British Central Africa.
ONE PENNY" on 2d. 7s. 6d. each. 60s.
per dozen.

British East Africa Company.

1890-95. |, 1, 2, 2|, 3, 4, 4£, 5, 7£, 8 annas,
1 , 2, 3, 4, and 5 rupees. Set of fifteen for 21s.

Ditto, i, 1,2, 3, 4, 4|, 5. 1\, 8 annas, and 1
rupee. Set of ten for 5s.

inn onrs natalcape -■ transvaal

IUU.UUU STAMPS. Made up in bundles of 100.

ISAACS <0 CO., Stamp Dealers,

Havana House
333, WEST STREET, DURBAN, NATAL.

British East Africa Protectorate.

Company's stamps surcharged " British East
Africa."

3 annas, br> M'n on red 5

4 „ brown 2

8 „ blue 5

1 rupee, rose 7

3 rupees, purple 30

4 ,, blue 30

5 „ green b'O 0

Indian Stamps surcharged " British East
Africa."

NIGER COAST (1893 PrOUl.). |, 1,1*, 2,**, and 4 annas. Set of six for 10s.

;]d., vermilion, fine, used, post free ; Is. 7d.

F. A. PENDLEBURY,

8, FERNHILL ROAD, B00TLE, LIVERPOOL.

Send me your list of wants. I have a large
quantity of good medium stamps.

TO LET.

5s. per inch per insertion, prepaid.

TO LET.

5s. per inch per insertion, prepaid.

Zanzibar Protectorate.

Indian Stamps surcharged " Zanzibar."
I, 1. lh, 2, 2£, and 3 annas. Set of six for 10s.

Cyprus.

Issue of 1882-86 : 30 paras, ^, 1, 2, 4, 6, and

12 piastres, all obsolete, rising in value. Set

of seven for 7s. b'd.

Issue of 1890.
colour:

Same values printed in two
Set of seven for 5s.

TO LET.

5s. per inch per insertion, prepaid.

Dominica.

Is. " C.A." strip of three
Od. " C.A." strip of three

£21 0 0
3 3 0

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PREPAID.

Monthly List of Philatelic Novelties,
6d. per annum, post free.

WHITFIELD KING & CO.,

jsianij} Jinporte,

IPSWICH.

ESTABLISHED 1869.

iv ADVERTISEMENTS. March, 1896.

PERIODICAL SALES BY AUCTION OF

RARE POSTA&E STAMPS

HELD BY

VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER

( Who originated them in this Country),

AT THE

St. Martin's Town Hall, Charing Cross, S.W.

DATES OF SALES. —April 16th & 17th, 28th & 29th;
May 14th & 15th, 21st & 22nd; Jane 11th.

Messrs. VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER, in announcing the
dates for this year, beg to draw attention to the following
Important Sales :—

APRIL 16th & 17th..— A private collection, including Hanover, lugr. ; Hungary, 3kr.,litho. unused;
Modena, the large B.G. ; Oldenburg, nearly complete ; Sarawak, the very rare provisional 2c. on 3c; Dominican
Republic, 1st issue, £rl. green, Irl. green, &c. ; Victoria, 5s. blue on yellow ; Spain, nearly complete ; rare Swiss
Cantonals ; Shanghai, the rare provisionals, used and Is', issues ; Sydney Views, a very good assortment; West
Indies, a very fine lot, including rare Nevis, St. Vincent, St. Christopher, Tobago, &c, and many others.

APRIL 28th. & 29th.— A fine general selection of Uritish, Foreign, and Colonial Posiage Stamps.

MAY 14th & 15th.— Messrs. Ventom, Bull, & Copper have received instructions from St. Henry
Bunbury, Bart., to dispose of his very fine collection, including the following rarieties : Great Britain, a very fine
lot, unused, including many rarieties; Switzerland— the Basle, Winterthur, Vaud, Zurich, 4 rappens (unused),
and 6 rappens ; Wurtemburg, 1st issue, unused originals; Oldenburg, complete unused, including superb speci-
mens of the grd. gr. ; Hanover, 10 gr., unused, very fine ; Italy, complete unused, mostly in mint state ; Baden,
3 kr. unused, small perfa. ; a magnificent lot of West Indies, the following Islands being practically complete
unused, St. Lucia, Bahamas, Dominica, Tobago, Nevis (superb), Viruin Islands, St. Vincent, and Barbados;
others well represented ; United States, nearly complete, including Departmental* and Periodicals (2 sets) complete ;
Canada, superb 6d. green and lOd. blue ; Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Is. violet ; a fine lot of Newfoundlands ;
British Columbia, complete unused, except 2jd. and 5 cents imperf. ; Cape woodblocks, including 4d. dark blue,
very fine ; a grand lot of Sierra Leone; India, £ anna red, a superb unused pair, la. rouletted on piece ; Ceylon,
4d. rose imperf., &c. ; fine Sydney Views ; Queensland, 2d. blue imperf. (3 very fine) ; Trinidad, fine lithographs,
6d. green imperf., magnificent specimens; Victoria, 5s. blue on yellow, a fine block of 4 ; British Guiana, 1860 lc,
a strip of 3, and single on entire, showing different types, and others.

Owing to the large number of applications that the Auctioneers receive from
America and the Continent for their Catalogues, these are issued, when practicable,
one month before the date of Sale. In order to facilitate this arrangement, owners
intending to include Stamps should forward them at the earliest possible moment.

The greatest care is requisite in the preparation of these Catalogues, so that a
correct and comprehensive description of the Stamps may be given.

VALUATIONS MADE IF REQUIRED.

Catalogues of all Sales and Terms can be had on application to

VENTOM, BULL, & COOPER,

35, OLD JEWRY, LONDON, E.C.

Telegraphic Address : "Ventom, London." Telephone Number, 15,076.

ESTABLISHED 1761

March, 1896. ADVERTISEMENTS.

PUTTIGK & SIMPSON,

47, LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON, W.O.,

MAKE THE SALE OF

RARE POSTAGE STAMPS

A SPECIALITY

THEIR NEXT SALE WILL TAKE PLACE

On April 20th and 21st,

And will comprise the second portion of

A MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION

WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FINE RARITIES: —

ANTIOQUIA, 1st issue, 5 cts. green. BOLIVAR, 1st issue, 10 c., green, unused. CAPE, Id.
and 4d. woodblocks. CANADA, 6d., perf.. on wove ; and Gd., perf., on laid. CEYLON, 4d., 8d.,
and 2s., imperf. COLUMBIAN REPUBLIC, 1802, 20 c., red, and 1 peso, lilac on bluish. NEW
BRUNSWICK, Gd. and Is. NEWFOUNDLAND, 4d., carmine, unused; G|d., carmine; and Is.,
orange. NOVA SCOTIA, Is. NEW ZEALAND, a rare lot. NEW SOUTH WALES, some very
fine Svdney Views, including Id. and 2d., unused. OLDENBURG, complete, including several
errors.' QUEENSLAND, Id., 2d., and Gd., imperf. REUNION, an entire original sheet of 1st
issue, 10 cts , black SAXONY, 3 pf. SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN, 1st issue, 1 sch., used.
SPAIN. 1852, -2 reales, and many others. SWITZERLAND, the double Geneva, Basle, and 4 rap ,
Zurich. TRINIDAD, Lady MacLeod Local. TUSCANY, GO crazie. UNITED STATES, a fine
lot. VICTORIA, 5s., blue on yellow ; Gd., orange, beaded oval, &c. WESTERN AUSTRALIA,
1st issue, complete, and the error, 2d., mauve ; and many other rarities, the collection being
especially strong in the early issues of S. AMERICA and AUSTRALIA.

This Sale will be followed by another —

On Monday & Tuesday, 4th & 5th of May.

Amongst the many Rare Stamps included will be the following :—

GREAT BRITAIN, 9d. hair lines, used, very fine. SWITZERLAND, Vand, 4 c , very fine,
on original, and others. L ABU AN, G c. on 16 c , blue, CAPE, Id. woodblock, unused.
MAURITIUS, a very fine lot of the " Post Paid," on pieces of original- CANADA, Gd. perf,
NOVA SCOTIA, Id., strip of 3, aud Is , violet, 2 copies. NEW BRUNSWICK, Is , mauve,
unused, and the Cannel stamp. NEWFOUNDLAND, Gd., carmine, used, superb, and Is., orange,
fine. DOMINICA, Is., C.A., an unused pair. NEVIS, Gd., litho, used; Gd., green; Gd., green,
2 fine used copies ; and Is., violet, a pair; and two others. ST. LUCIA, Is., black and orange (2).
and wmk. C.A., Gd., violet, and la., orange brown (2), all used and fine. ST. VINCENT, Id. on
Gd.. and 4d. on Is., superb. TURKS ISLANDS, Is. prime, two very fine copies. VIRGIN
ISLANDS, perf. 15, Gd. rose, and Is. single line border. WESTERN AUSTRALIA, the rare
error, 2d., mauve, used, and other varieties.

The next Sales will be held on 28th $ 29th May, and 16th 8f 16th June.

LIBERAL ADVANCES PENDING REALIZATION, IF REQUIRED.

FOR TERMS AND FULL PARTICULARS ADDRESS—

estabushED 1794. PUTTICK & SIMPSOU, 47, Leicester Sq., LONDOJT.

vi ADVERTISEMENTS. March, 1896.

WALTER MORLEY,

186, WEST GREEN ROAD, TOTTENHAM, LONDON, N.
gcaler anb specialist in \\t postage, Jfistal, aitb Celcgmplj Stamps of dreat $ritaiiu

Walter Morley's Catalogue of English Stamps with Supplement of revised prices to January, 1896.

Price Is. 6d.

"Walter Morley's Catalogue of Colonial Revenue Stamps. Price 2s. 6d.

Handy Pocket Albums for reconstructed sheets of English Stamps. 3d. each, 2s. 6d. per dozen.

{Fourth Edition now Publishing).

The plating of English Stamps has so caught on, by the issue of these little books, that there has

already been constructed more sheets of English Stamps than all the other Countries of the World.

1,000 of these Albums take 240,000 Stamps to fill them— and although this cannot seriously affect

used Id. red plate numbers, such Stamps as Id. Blacks and 2d. Blues (no lines) — will some day

be as hard to complete as Sydney Views and Nevis.
Fine Selections of English and Colonial Stamps can be submitted on approval. References required.

Bronze Medal— Paris, 1894. Highest Award for Philatelic Journals— Paris, 1892.

THE PHILATELICTRECORD.

Prices for the previous Volumes arc as follows : —

Vol. I. (1879), beautifully bound in cloth, gilt-lettering Vol. VIII. (1886), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
and edging, containing Photograph and Autograph of graph of M. Burnett, Esq. Price 7s. 6d., post free,

the late E. L. Peinberton. A small number of copies Vol. IX. (1887), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
still remaining. Price 20s., post free. graph of the late T. K. Taplinc, Esq., M.P., Vice-

Vol. II. (188(i). bound to match Vol. I., but considerably President of the Philatelic Society of London. Price

larger, contains illustrations in the later numbers. 7s. 6d., post tree.

Price 15s., post free. Vol. X. ( 188*), similarly bound. Permanent Photograph

Vol III. (1881), bound to match Vols. I. and II.. but of W. E. Image, Esq. Price 7s Gd., post free.

much larger. Profusely illustrated with coloured j Vol. XI. (1889), similarly bound. Permanent Photograph

plates, &c. ; also permanent Photograph of Dr C. W. ! of Heir Philipp von Ferrary. Price 7s. 6d., post free.
Viner. Price 15s., post free. Vol. XII. (1890), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-

Vol. IV. (1682), similarly bound, profusely illustrated. graph of .Messrs. Caillebotte. Price 7s. 6d., post free.

Permanent Photograph of the late Vict. G. de Ysasi. ! Vol. XIII. (1891), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
Price 10s. 6d., post free. graph of E. I). Bacon. Esq. Price 7s. 6d., post free.

Vol. V. (1883), similarly bound, profusely illustrated, j Vol. XIV. (1892), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
Photograph of W. A. b. Westoby, Esq. Price 7s. 6d., araph of M. P. Castle. Esq. Price 7s. 6d., post free,

post free. I Vol. XV. (1893), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-

Vol. VI. (1884). similarly bound. Permanent Photo- graph of Mons. J. B. Moens. Price Is. Gd., post free,

yraph ot Major E. B. Evans, K.A. Price 7s. bd., post I Vol. XVI. (1«94), similarly bound. Permanent Photo-
free, graph of Monnt Brown, Esq. Price 7s. Gd., post free.

Vol. VII. (1885), similarly bound. Permanent Photo- Vol. XVII. (1895), similarly bound. Price 7s. 6d. post

graph of Dr. A. Legrand, Secretary of the French j free.

Philatelic Society. Price 7s. Gd., post free. I

Specially prepared Covers for binding Volumes I. to XVII., in red or blue, post free Is. Gd, each.

The Publishers undertake the binding of Subscribers' Copies in similar style to above, in red or
blue cloth, post free, 2s. 6d. per volume. In roan, 5s. per volume, post free,

BUHL & Co., Ltd., 11, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.

<s@lli<st!)@ms mm mm stoics

Purchased to any amount for Cash.

SELECTIOISTS ^OF^ST^niiFS,
Wholesale or Retail.

SHEETS OF STA.3VTJPS, Sec,
Sent on approval against References.

Prospectus of Cheap Packets. Wholesale List for Dealers.

Wholesale List of Variety Packets. Illustrated Prospectus of Senf s Albums.

Illustrated Prospectus of Peritz' Duplicate Books and Albums for Entires.

Sent gratis and post-free on application.

BUHL & CO., Limited,

11, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.

March, 1896.

A D VER TISEMENTS.

OUR nVCOISTTKIIl.-Y LIST

BARGAINS & NOVELTIES.

* Used. j Unused.
IN ORDERING ONLY THE NUMBER NEED BE QUOTED.

It
2*
3t
4t
5t
0*
7r
8r
9t
lOf
Ill-
Tit
13f
14t
lof
Kit
17 1
ltit
19 r
29 1
21*
22*
2.'}*
24 1
2ot
2(5 1
27 1

28 f

29 f
80f

31 1
82 1
33t
34t
35f
36t
37 1

British East Africa Co., provisionals, ^a. and 7ga. ...

,, „ }2a. to 1 Rupee, set of 10 ...

„ „ ^a. to 5 Rupees, set of 15 ...

„ „ provisional, ^ anna (in manuscript) on 3 annas

British East Africa, provisional (on Indian), £, 1, 2, 2£a

,, ,, ^a., la, l|a., 2a., and 25a.. set of o

„ ,, provisional (on B. E. A. Co.), 3 annas

„ ,, ,, ,, 4 annas

British BechuamVand, Is. (on English)

Niger Coast, 1st issue, 2M.

» 5d m

British Bechuanaland, ^d., Protectorate, in large type

Bulgaria, 1896, 1, 5, 15, and 25 stot, set of 4

Cuba, 189C!, ^d., Id., and 2 mils green

Gibraltar, 1 896. 20c. olive

Perak, 2c, 1895

Norway, 1896, 1 ore ...

Uruguay, 1896, 2c. blue

Straits Settlements, 2c. brown, C.A. ...

Gwalior, 1895 (native surcharge). |a.

Queensland, 1895. £<!., with burele ...
,, „ ^d.. thick paper ...

„ ,, ^d., with " secret " watermark ...

Mauritius, 3c. lilac

Portuguese Indies, provisional (crown type), H on 5 R^is
„ „ „ \l on 20 Reis

,, ., „ ., 1£ and 4$ (double surchai

on 5 Reis
,, ., ,, 4£ on 5 Reis

,, ,, ,, ,, 4i on 20 Reis

Price

for 1

s. d.

20 0

22 6

4 6

25 0

30 0

8 0

7 0

0 10

1 (5
6 6
0 9

;c)

Transvaal, £d. on Is. green ...

„ Id. on 2i(l. violet

,, 6d, pink fiscal, surcharged '; Postzogol." in gi

Sweden, 6 ore, with post horn

British Guiana, 1889, 2c. mauve and black

POSTAGE EXTRA.

0 2

6 0

3 0

0 2
0 3
0 2

15 ()

3 6

10 0

1 3

Price
for 12

s. (I.

48 0

9 0

1 0

3 3

1 6

(l 6

1 (5

15 0

,.. 18 0

... 3 6

... 2 6

... 3 0

... 35 0

12 6

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY.

New Issue. Jttst out.

id., Id., 2d., 3d., 4d., 6d., 8d., and Is., unused. The complete set of 8, 4s, 6d.
post free. Twelve sets for 50s., post free.

BUHL & CO., Limited

11, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, E.C.

viii ADVERTISEMENTS. March, 1896.

PERIODICAL SALES BY AUCTION

Of Rare Postage Stamps.

Messrs. BUHL & CO. Limited,

BEG TO AKNOTJNCE THAT THEIR NEXT SALE WILL BE HELD AT

ANDERTON'S HOTEL, FLEET STREET,

LONDON, E.G.,

On APRIL 22nd and 23rd, 1896.

The Catalogue will include an exceptionally fine collection of

Colonial and other rarities, and many useful lots of Duplicates,

&c, fuller particulars of which will be duly announced.

Catalogues may be had gratis of the Auctioneers as below.

PERIODICAL MONTHLY SALES

WILL BE HELD THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

Collectors and others wishing to include Lots in these Sales should send
them to the Auctioneers as early as possible.

Terms on Application.
LIBERAL CASH ADVANCES MADE

PENDING REALIZATION, IF DESIRED.

BUHL & CO. Limited wish particularly to mention that all Stamos in
their Auctions are sold ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT RESERVE.

BUHL & CO. LIMITED,

f) |Hatet ^api'ty, State, ^nrtiancm, anb |JuWis|>«s,
ii, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, E.C

Telegraphic Address: u PHILATELY," London.] [established 1880.

Charles Jones , Printer, i & 2, West Harding Street, London, E.C.

Vol. 18.— No. 4. April, 1896.

The

Philatelic

Record

and Stamp News.

EDITED BY

Edward J. Nankivell.

>H8H«

(Sfonfettfs.

LONDON:

BUHL & CO., LIMITED,

ii, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E. C.

SIXPENCE.

Fearly Subscription 3*., post free to any part of the world.

Page,

1. Editorial Notes :— Wanted another General Philatelic Exhibition.— Indian

Postal Annoyances. — In Defence of the S.S.S.S. — More Commemorative
Portuguese 93

2. First Issue of Western Australia. By Lipman B. Hush 96

3. Notes on Nevis and St. Kitts. By Douglas Mackenzie 97

4. Obsolete Leeward Islands 99

o. Stamps of Impoverished States. By Edward J. Nankivbll 100

6. Lubeck Error of 1859 102

7. Orange Free State Issues 104

8. Reviews :— The Postal Issues of Hawaii. — The American Philatelist, Vol. IX.— 10G

9. Novelties and Discoveries 107

10. Philately in the Mags :— Philately on the Continent.— Differences in 1873

and 1882 U.S. — Australian " Postal Fiscals." — Unpaid Letter Stamps of France. —
Queensland Perforating Machines. — Aggregate Printings of U.S. Departrnentals. —
Recent Curagao Provisionals. — The U.S. 30c, 1872 : Secret Mark. — Chilians used
in Peru. — At the "Cripples" again. — The "Boris" Bulgarian Issue. — Designs
on English Stamps Ill

11. Philatelic Gossip:— A Postage Calculator.— Mr. Castle on himself.— Nevis

4d_ Litho. — The Cuban Insurgents' Stamp. — U.S. Periodical Stamps. — Philatelic
Exhibitions Abroad. — The Johannesberg Society. — The Australian Philatelist ... 110

12. Speculative Stamps : -Circular Ko. 5 118

13. Correspondence: — 3d. Natal, perf. watermark Star 118

14. Current Business Notes. By Theodok Buhl. A Philatelic Club.—

Auctions. — Novelties. — No Depression in Stamps. — The Hague Exhibition ... 119

15. Notable Stamps at Auction 120

AD VERTISEMENTS.

April, 1896.

W. HADLOW'S

Approval Books

BRITISH COLONIAL STAMPS

Bahamas, Barbados, and Bermuda,

Contains a splendid assortment of shades of
the C.C. Vl\ Bahamas, used and unused ; thick
and thin papers of Barbados in shades, and a
fine selection of Bermudas in shades, used and
unused.

British Guiana.

Starting with the 1860 issue this book
contains an unusually fine choice of varieties on
thick and thin paper, in rare shades, arranged
according to perforations.

St. Helena.

Used and unused of all values, and the rare
varieties in grand shades, including a block of
12 of the 3d. perf. 12, long line and inscription ;
compound perfs., used and unused.

Cape of Good Hope.

Triangulars in pairs and blocks, fine shades
of C.C. and C.A., and the surcharges.

St. Vincent.

Good shades of the early issues, compound
perfs., &c, &c, and all the recent issues.

St. Lucia.

Starting with the C.C. 12J and 14 there is a
fine range of shades through the provisionals
and recent issues. Now is the chance for
picking up early dies and the retouch.

Trinidad and Tobago.

A very nice lot of Trinidad, especially in
shades of the early issues ; also an unusually
fine lot of pin perfs., the accumulation of years,
now arranged for sale for the first time. In
Tobago there are some nice shillings, 4d. C.C.
and C.C, and several of the rarities.

Grenada and Jamaica.

In Grenada there are whole pages of shades
of the 1875-82 issues, and in Jamaica an
excellent pick of shades.

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